Making Kindness A Contact Sport
Last Thursday, I had the privilege of attending the 2025 Shoulder Check Showcase! Now in its third year, the event has quickly become a staple of the summer for the hockey community in the Northeast. Held annually in Stamford, Connecticut, it brings together NHL players, families, and fans for a cause that transcends the game.
The showcase was founded in memory of Hayden Thorsen, a 16-year-old goalie from Darien, Connecticut, who tragically took his own life in 2022. In his honor, the HT40 Foundation was launched with a powerful and simple mission: make kindness a contact sport. Hayden was known for making others feel seen – teammates, classmates, kids on the fringe, it didn’t matter. The Foundation aims to empower peers to show up, ask questions, and offer connection before a crisis hits. It can be as simple as a text, a DM, or a phone call. In a world that’s increasingly digital and sometimes overwhelming, it’s a message that resonates with kids and adults alike.
On the ground in Stamford, the vibe was very wholesome. Food trucks lined the lot. Merch tables buzzed with traffic. Kids darted through the crowds in Panarin jerseys, while others tested their slapshot inside the NHL Network tent. Autograph seekers pressed against the fence, sharpies in hand, mostly Rangers faithful jockeying for position.
I know some fans religiously chase autographs to sell, trade, or collect. I won’t knock the hustle. At the end of the day, I respect the passion. Personally, I was more interested in observing the scene and taking it all in.
Character in the Chaos
It’s fascinating to watch the players who stop, linger, and laugh. I live for those fleeting glimpses of personality in a league that doesn’t necessarily spotlight them the way the NFL or the NBA might. They’re moments that serve as a great reminder that beneath all the gear, they’re just regular guys like you and me. Now, that doesn’t stop a few neanderthal Rangers fans from treating them like zoo animals, but that’s neither here nor there.
One fan had a pair of hot pink, star-shaped sunglasses and was asking players to rock them for a photo. Most declined politely — until Trevor Zegras swooped in, threw them on without hesitation, and posed like it was a shoot for Anaheim’s PR team. Kevin Shattenkirk gave a subtle nod to the moment too, placing them on the brim of his hat. You obviously hear about Zegras being that kind of guy but seeing it up close was refreshing.
Long Island native and Ottawa Senator, Shane Pinto, was a popular character as well. He chatted with a former coach, laughed it up with fans, generally just hung out. And from what I saw, Will Smith, Adam Fox, Brett Berard, Marty St. Louis, Dave Maloney, Brett Pesce, Mason McTavish, Cutter Gauthier, Drew Fortesque and Matt Rempe (of course) were extremely generous with their time.
Then there was Chris Kreider, rocking his Anaheim orange amid a sea of Ranger blue. His interactions with fans were brief, but they landed. The acknowledgment was there. It’s bewildering to think he’s playing for a different team next year.
Reach Out, Check In, Make Contact
“Swaggy P” and Pavel Barber kicked off the action with a back-and-forth shootout that wowed the crowd. I wasn’t familiar with their content going in, but there’s no denying their skill, and more importantly, their ability to win over the youngins. I think I still hear echoes of “Swaggy!!! Swaggyy!!” all these days later.
Then, the tone shifted. Post-Swaggy and prior to puck drop, the rink went still. John Brancy’s national anthem gave everyone goosebumps, and his rendition of “Lean On Me” captivated the room like nothing else. I take his talent for granted sometimes, hearing him before most every home game at Madison Square Garden. For as long as he was singing at center ice, I forgot how much the rink faintly smelled like used hockey gear.
But it was Hayden’s mother and sister who changed the air entirely, speaking with clarity and heart about Hayden’s legacy.
Dave Maloney stepped forward and led the motto for HT40: “Reach out. Check in. Make contact.” The entire arena joined in reciting the words in unison in what was a shared moment of purpose.
I have to say, the NHLers on the ice deserve massive respect for showing up. I was genuinely astonished by how many made the trip, not all of them were local. I’m sure there’s no shortage of offseason obligations, boxes to tick, workouts to log, vacations to enjoy. But they chose to make Shoulder Check a priority.
And truthfully? I’m not sure if mental health advocacy would even register as ‘cool’ in hockey circles if the players weren’t leading the way. Their presence is everything. I’ll definitely be rooting for these guys (anytime they’re not facing the Rangers).
Skill Over Scraps: Rinkside at Terry Conners
Gameplay had that classic All-Star game vibe with a light intensity but skill very much on display. The type of hockey that’s not always entertaining on TV but intriguing in person. No checking or hitting, obviously, but there was still a nice flow to the game and hockey IQ on display with every change of possession. I found it so neat to be on the glass in a cozy rink like Terry Conners, able to walk around to get different angles as NHLers snapped the puck around right in front of me.
As expected, the tempo ticked upward a little bit as the game wore on. Some guys clearly wanted to score more than others. I’d bet Matt Rempe caught some flack in the locker room; the guy was galloping all over the ice and not shy whatsoever to take the puck to the net. Most guys were going less than 50% and Rempe was well over 75%.
On one occasion, Brett Pesce of the New Jersey Devils sidestepped Rempe, who then collided into the boards harder than you’d expect at a charity game. Right on the glass, I could hear Pesce giving him an earful as play transitioned the other way. It was a pretty funny moment for folks in the vicinity on the glass that caught the sequence.
I’ve separately wondered how other NHLers perceive Rempe. He’s got that goofy, happy-go-lucky personality for starters. He’s got packs of fans screaming their heads off like he’s Harry Styles wherever he goes. He’s pumping people’s eyes shut on the ice, he’s going full throttle in charity games, all the while he’s a 4th liner and still establishing his niche in the league. I love the guy but can’t imagine he’s super popular outside of Midtown Manhattan. I can tell you that for free.
Spencer Knight, now with the Chicago Blackhawks, was noticeably stellar in net. It’s gotta be a different mentality for goalies at these types of events. Skaters can dog it, but goalies are either stopping the puck or allowing a goal. It’s way more binary.
For what it’s worth, I felt like the puck kept finding Mason McTavish, Brett Berard, Adam Fox and Ryan Leonard. And Swaggy P! How could I forget him?
Kindness Wears #40
I didn’t know Hayden Thorsen. But walking out of Terry Conners Rink last Thursday, it felt like I did. The HT40 Foundation stands as a brilliant symbol of what the hockey community is all about – loyalty, love and showing up for each other. They put on an incredible event, and I’d go back in a heartbeat. Join me, and countless others, in making kindness a contact sport.
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