NHL defenceman Matt Irwin of Brentwood Bay took a break from his Stanley Cup duties to help a local family after their 11-year-son had his hockey gear stolen from a storage locker at Spencer Middle School.
The boy’s father, Jason Shemilt, asked on Facebook this week for help replacing the gear.
“We cannot afford to replace any of it,” Shemilt wrote. “Our son is heartbroken that the gear is gone.”
Irwin, 29, heard of the story and supplied the family with a new set of equipment.
“He wants to be out there with his friends,” Irwin, who plays for the Nashville Predators, said during an interview on TSN.
“And we know how expensive hockey gear is. I’m so fortunate to have good friends at CCM who were able to help out.”
Irwin grew up playing hockey at the Peninsula Recreation Centre and Pearkes Arena, and then for the Nanaimo Clippers of the BCHL. His family still lives in Victoria.
Nashville is in Pittsburgh tonight to play the Penguins in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Finals. The best-of-seven series is tied 2-2.
If the Predators win, Irwin would have the right to bring the Stanley Cup to Victoria for a day with family and fans.
