Hockey stars from the Winnipeg Jets took a break from the ice Wednesday to deliver an important message to hundreds of high school students from across Manitoba. Members of the city’s NHL club, currently experiencing a historic, but high-pressure start to the season, spoke with kids about mental health, getting support, and how they deal with the stress of the NHL. “Getting away from the game and talking to my family and close friends.
So just taking the mind off the stressful parts of my day, and diving into what makes me a friend and a family member,” said Jets’ netminder Connor Hellebuyck. The effort to connect the hockey greats with kids in a grassroots fashion is part of . It was established in honour of late Jets’ forward Rick Rypien and has been ongoing for more than a decade, with 2024 marking year 11.
Providing students and teachers with lessons and supports for keeping track of their mental health, alongside coping mechanisms, the project aims to promote mental health well-being, as whether you are an NHL star, or simply trying to get through a hard day at school, everyone needs a hand from time to time. Jets’ forward Gabriel Vilardi opening up to the students — who came from 38 high schools Manitoba — about how he deals with stress. “I’ll call my mom if anything is going wrong or just to vent about anything,” he said.
“Even the dog, the dog is good to talk to, nothing wrong with talking to the dog.” To hear from the professional athletes a.
