NHL Joins 14 Pro Sports Leagues in Recognizing Healthcare Workers

The National Hockey League put out a press release today on their website saying that they have joined forces with fourteen professional sports leagues to form “The Real Heroes Project.”

The initiative will “recognize and celebrate healthcare workers on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic.”

According to the press release, athletes will be participating from “the ATP, MLB, MLS, NASCAR, NBA, NFL, NHL, NWSL, USGA, WNBA, WTA and WWE, among other professional and esports leagues, including Activision Blizzard Esports and Electronic Arts.” The athletes will be “dedicating their jerseys and uniforms to a special healthcare hero who is helping their community on the forefront of this global crisis.”

The athletes will be producing public service announcements produced by “creative agency 72andSunny, creative production company Hecho Studios, and media publication Adweek.” The PSAs will debut this Wednesday (May 6) “across league and team platforms.”

Each athlete participating, which for the NHL includes retired former player Wayne Gretzky and current Chicago Blackhawk captain Jonathan Toews, “will share a personal thank you message to their healthcare hero on social media utilizing #TheRealHeroes.” Also, in the PSAs and personal tributes, the “athletes will cover their name on their jerseys or uniforms and replace it with the name of their healthcare hero.”

In addition to Gretzky and Toews, former Canadian women’s hockey gold medalist and current Toronto Maple Leafs Assistant Director of Player Development, Hayley Wickenheiser will be participating in the program representing the NHL.

The program also invites fans of the athletes and leagues and teams in question to participate on social media. Fans can “dedicate their personal jerseys and team apparel to a frontline individual using the hashtag #TheRealHeroes.”

Devils Participate in the All-In Challenge

The Devils are taking part in the All-In Challenge, which is presented by Fanatics. The program sees athletes and artists coming together to help “fight food insecurity.”

Essentially, fans bid on memorabilia and experiences to help raise money for food for kids, the elderly and people working on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Devils announced a package that includes tickets to a game for the winner and their guests, a locker room tour, a Zamboni ride, on stage concert tickets at Prudential Center and playing a round of golf with Martin Brodeur.

The starting bid was $2,500.00 and is currently up to $7,000.00 off thirteen bids as of around 6 PM on April 24.

One-hundred-percent of the money goes to charity.

The winner and three friends get to play golf with Marty, get penalty box tickets to a Devils game at Prudential Center (which include lounge access with unlimited food and beverage according to the official rules). The winner and their three guests will also get a tour of the Devils’ locker room following the game, get to watch warmups from ice level, have the opportunity to ride the Zamboni between periods and get a custom Devils jersey and Devils merchandise.

The game and the golf round with Marty will be decided upon at a later date according to the official rules.

As for the concert, you and three guests will be seated on the stage during the concert, with VIP lounge access throughout the show. You will also get an artist meet-and-greet following the show.

This includes one round-trip plane ticket for the winner and their three guests, domestic airfare only. There is also one-night hotel stay for the four people. According to the rules, the “winner can choose whether flight & hotel stay will be used for the concert experience or the game (if they are on different days).”

It is pretty pricey, but all for a good cause. If you have the funds and want to take a chance, go to charityauctions.fanatics.com. The auction ends next Friday at around 8 PM ET.