Buffalo Sabres forward Ryan O'Reilly has a passion project.
It's called "The Hometown Heroes".
O'Reilly, his brother Cal, and many NHL alum have partnered over the years with the Gateway Centre of Excellence in Rural Health, Alexandra Marine and General Hospital and the YMCA Strong Kids Program for a charity hockey game.
On Wednesday night, the fourth annual "Hometown Heroes" game is taking place.
Proceeds from the gate admission, silent auction and 50-50 will be donated to local charities.
“We are organizing the event under the banner of health for the community – getting kids involved in sport and recreation. Having local role models that the kids can watch and meet, helps promote that,” said event organizer from the YMCA, Anne Marie Thomson. “The kids see their local heroes, get inspired and then get involved in sport.”
As a means to promote healthy living in Huron County, Ontario, the NHLers mingle and play with notable community leaders, members of Parliament, and doctors to raise money and to educate the community. Organizers also find the Hometiwn Heroes event as a means to give back to the community.
“It’s always nice to come back here. I feel like this community is a big reason why I am able to play where I am now. It is such a great community,” said Buffalo Sabres center and Clinton, Ontario native, Ryan O'Reilly.
"For us to come back and help be a part of this and help raise some money, it means a lot to us too. It means a lot to us, to help so many good people in this community that we can help support the best way we can.”
The proceeds from the annual Hometown Heroes game will be split evenly amongst the organizations and registered charities involved: Gateway, AMGH and YMCA. The goal for the Fourth Annual Hometown Heroes Hockey Game is to raise $70, 000.
“I remember when I was a young guy, I remember watching celebrity hockey games and seeing an NHL player in person. It’s funny now being on the complete opposite end of it now, and it’s great – you see the kids and how excited they get, and a lot of them don’t have the opportunity to go watch a real [NHL] game. To do it here and have some fun with it, it’s awesome and you can’t beat it", O'Reilly said.
In his two seasons in Buffalo, O'Reilly has scored 41 goals, 74 assists for 115 points in 143 games played. In his eight year NHL career, O'Reilly has played in 570 career games, and has scored 131 goals and 230 assists for 361 points.
Older brother Callahan scored one goal in 11 games in Buffalo last season, but netted nine goals and 33 assists over a 47-game span with the Rochester Amerks.
On July 1, Cal signed a two-year, two-way contract with the Minnesota Wild.
Huron and Bruce counties have a rich hockey history with many players who have gone on to play in the NHL and AHL. Ryan O'Reilly (Buffalo Sabres), his brother Cal O'Reilly, Kevin Czuczman (New York Islanders), Justin Peters (Washington Capitals) and former NHL'er and Stanley Cup winner Boyd Devereaux will be participating in the game.
This event was created as a community celebration with the ultimate goal of giving back to organizations that make our communities healthy and vibrant. Proceeds from the game are equally distributed to the Alexander Marine & General Hospital, Goderich-Huron YMCA's Strong Kids and Gateway Centre of Excellence in Rural Health.
Since 2014 Hometown Heroes: Raise a Little Health has raised $130,000 for the three local community groups.
Thanks, Hometown Heroes
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