Adam Mascherin found a way for his good play to benefit a great cause.
Mascherin, a second-round draft pick of the Panthers in 2016, recently teamed up with his former Kitchener Rangers teammate, Jeremy Bracco, to raise nearly $500 worth of pizza for charity by saving up gift cards the duo had received over the past two seasons as a prize for earning three-star honors after home games.
"First of all, I don't think we need to be eating any pizza, so we thought it would be a nice gesture,"
Mascherin told TheRecord.com
. "It's something we thought a lot about and figured it would be a good idea to give back."
Mascherin, as well as his parents Sandy and Sylvie, and his billets Mike and Kelli Kuzyk, were on hand serving many of the donated meal themselves in Kitchener on Friday, alongside numerous other volunteers from Ray of Hope, a Christian-based charity that serves free meals year-round to those in need.
"One of the things we've tried to instill with the guys we billet is to be kind, giving and caring to your community and the people around you," Kelli Kuzyk said.
Mascherin, who was named Kitchener's MVP after notching a career-high 100 points (35-65-100) in 65 games this past season, certainly had plenty of pizza to give away after winning the club's annual three-star award that goes to the player with the most three-star selections after home games.
"We're so blessed to grow up and play the game we love," said Mascherin, who was named first star six times, second star 12 times and third star once after home games in 2016-17. "When you have a chance to do little things like this for people who aren't as fortunate, it's warming in the heart."
