Hockey fans united in support after Jets star Scheifele's father dies
When hockey fans around the world heard about the death of a Winnipeg Jets star's father ahead of the club's decisive Game Six playoff matchup, they opened their hearts — and their wallets.
It was announced Saturday afternoon that Brad Scheifele, father of Jets centre Mark Scheifele, had died the night before. Despite the news, the younger Scheifele suited up for the game against the Dallas Stars, scoring what would be the team's final goal of the playoffs before they were eliminated in overtime.
After the news broke, the True North Youth Foundation received more than $65,000 in donations, mostly based around Scheifele's No. 55 jersey number.
The foundation's Dwayne Green told 680 CJOB's The Start that donations based around 55 — like $5.55 or $55, or even $5,500 from both the Dallas Stars and food delivery company, Skip the Dishes — have been the order of the day.
Story continues below advertisement
'When you see something like that come out of such a tough moment, it really reminds you of how sport can unite humanity, in many ways,' he said.
Get daily National news
Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up
By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy
Green said Scheifele has always supported the foundation's work, and the outpouring of support is a nice gesture, and evidence some things are more important than the score on the ice or team loyalty.
'(Whether Scheifele is) talking to kids and doing school visits, and whether it's mentoring one of our hockey teams, that alone is pretty remarkable when you think of how busy their schedule is,' Green said.
'He's out there hopping on the ice with the kids and running through some practices or coming to a game and watching them — just being someone they can rely on as another person in their corner to show support.'
Green said the response has been overwhelming, with more than 900 donations so far.
Anyone interested in donating can do so at the foundation's website.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Winnipeg Free Press
22 minutes ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Oklahoma native Kristin Chenoweth to perform national anthem before Game 7 of NBA Finals
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — At 4-foot-11, Kristin Chenoweth is still making it to the NBA Finals. The award-winning actress, singer, Oklahoma native, Oklahoma Hall of Fame inductee and unabashed Thunder fan is performing 'The Star-Spangled Banner' before Game 7 of the title series between the Thunder and the Indiana Pacers on Sunday night, the NBA announced. Chenoweth's performance will air live on ABC at 8 p.m. Eastern, shortly before tipoff of the season's final game. Chenoweth's Thunder fandom has been no secret for at least the last 15 years, though she also has professed at times to liking the Los Angeles Lakers and New York Knicks as well. That said, the Thunder are clearly her top choice — so much so that she once told the Tulsa World she spent three hours bedazzling a Thunder hat. She went to Oklahoma City University after growing up in Broken Arrow, about 115 miles northeast of where the Thunder play. And her dog's name is Thunder. She even dressed the pup up once in a Thunder outfit. Chenoweth has been the anthem singer at multiple Thunder games in the past, sometimes alone and at least once with children from her Chenoweth Broadway Bootcamp. That camp is part of the arts and education fund that she founded to cultivate 'young artistic expression by enriching children's lives through the power of education, entertainment and experience.' Chenoweth won a Tony Award in 1999 for best featured actress in a musical for her role in 'You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown.' She also earned two other Tony nominations for best actress in a musical — one in 2004 for playing Glinda in 'Wicked' and the other in 2015 for playing 1930s Hollywood diva Lily Garland in 'On the Twentieth Century.' And in 2009, she won an Emmy for best supporting actress in a comedy series for her work on ABC's 'Pushing Daisies.' Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. ___ AP NBA:
Winnipeg Free Press
an hour ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Osorio returns to Toronto after suffering lower-body injury training with Canada
HOUSTON – Veteran midfielder Jonathan Osorio has left the Canada camp at the CONCACAF Gold Cup with a lower-body injury. Canada Soccer, in a social media post, said the Toronto FC captain will miss the rest of the tournament. The injury occurred in training the day before Canada's 1-1 draw with Curaçao on Saturday. 'Oso will return to Toronto FC today for further evaluation,' it said in a social media post Sunday. The TFC captain cannot be replaced on Canada's tournament roster at this point. With 85 caps, the 33-year-old Osorio was the most experienced member of coach Jesse Marsch's squad. He had yet to play at the tournament. Osorio was sidelined with a shoulder injury April 30 in a Canadian Championship loss to CF Montreal, returning May 24 off the Toronto bench in an MLS game against Nashville SC. He was added to Marsch's Canadian Shield Tournament squad, playing 62 minutes in the penalty shootout loss to Ivory Coast. The 30th-ranked Canadians (1-0-1) wrap up Group B play at the Gold Cup on Tuesday against No. 81 El Salvador (0-1-1) in Houston. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. — This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 22, 2025.
Winnipeg Free Press
an hour ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Canada's Fernandez tops Germany's Maria to advance at Bad Homburg Open
BAD HOMBURG – Canada's Leylah Fernandez defeated Germany's Tatjana Maria 6-0, 7-6 (1) on Sunday in the opening round of the Bad Homburg Open. Fernandez of Laval, Que., had three aces to one double fault and won 61 per cent of her first-serve points. The 22-year-old also broke on all four of her chances in the match. Despite Maria's big push in the second set, looking to extend the match to a third, Fernandez cruised in the tiebreaker, 7-1, to take the victory. Maria had four aces, two double faults and won 67 per cent of her first-serve points. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. The 37-year-old broke on her lone opportunity of the contest. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 22, 2025.
