Rangers Show Support at Shoulder Check Showcase

Reach out. Check in. Make contact. Connect.

No matter the age, level of competition, or years of experience, the message of spreading kindness and supporting others is the core focus of the Shoulder Check initiative, which stems from the #HT40 Foundation.

On Thursday evening at Terry Conners Ice Rink in Stamford, Conn., the #HT40 Foundation hosted its inaugural Shoulder Check Showcase to spread awareness regarding the importance of the mental health conversation with athletes at every stage of their respective careers. The foundation in honor of Hayden Thorsen, who passed away last spring at age 16. Thorsen was an avid hockey player and a member of the junior Rangers where he donned No. 40 in between the pipes.

The Rangers contingent of Adam Fox, Barclay Goodrow, Chris Kreider, Jonathan Quick and Mika Zibanejad all attended the Shoulder Check Showcase on Thursday night alongside an abundance of NHL talent that also made the trip to show support to HT40 in front of a sold-out crowd and continue cementing the importance of normalizing the mental health conversation.

"Everything relating to mental health these days is such an important topic," Goodrow said. "Especially when it comes to kids, making sure they know that if they're going through something, it's not a weakness to let someone else know or to just tell someone. Everyone goes through it, whether you're a 10-year-old kid playing hockey or a professional athlete.

"Mental health is at the top of everyone's minds," Goodrow continued. "There's no one that is completely immune to it. I think just spreading the word that everyone is here to help and by having the courage to come and speak up about what you're going through, [it] might help someone else in the future."

Upon arriving at the rink, the players were split into two teams - team black versus team white - with former Ranger and current Montreal Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis occupying team white's bench. The players' jerseys featured the Shoulder Check logo on the front, and each player wore No. 40 in honor of Thorsen. The right shoulder of each jersey was shaded bright turquoise, while the opposing shoulder featured the words, "MAKE CONTACT."

Prior to dropping the puck, there was an opening ceremony at center ice which was emceed by former Rangers captain and current MSG Networks personality Dave Maloney. As the players, coaches, referees and members of Thorsen's former team all took the ice, Thorsen's father Rob shared a few words to welcome the crowd and express gratitude for the outpouring of support. Maloney instructed them, as well as all spectators at the event, to stand side-by-side and place their hands on the shoulders of the person to the left, while raising their right hands. Maloney then prompted everyone to repeat the following: "Reach out. Check in. Make contact. Connect."

"In the formative years for me and my generation, playing hurt was a badge of honor," Maloney said. "And that was physical, let alone anything you had going on mentally. I'm really impressed and continue to be impressed that the players now can advocate for their physical health and have venues that advocate for their mental health."

From the Rangers, Fox, Goodrow, Kreider and Zibanejad all participated in the game. In thrilling fashion, the game was tied 9-9 with just a few seconds remaining, which forced the game into a shootout. Kreider netted the shootout winner with a nifty move before sending the puck to the top shelf.

As the evening wrapped up, the players united at center ice one last time for a group photo, tapped their sticks and saluted to the crowd to conclude the night. And while the players will all go off to their respective teams in the coming weeks and prepare for another season ahead, the showcase was an impactful way to support mental health and showing kindness to those around you.

"It's not always easy to express feelings," Fox said. "When you ask a guy how they're doing, it could go a long way. At any age, just seeing how a guy is doing, and checking in - it's super important."

For more information on the #HT40 Foundation and the Shoulder Check Showcase please visit:

https://www.shouldercheck.org/ourshowcase