Daily Cupcakes Feb 13th, 2012

Those of you who know me, know that I love talking about the philanthropist ways of hockey players. Matts Sundin has decided to do some good.

Retired Toronto Maple Leafs captain Mats Sundin is donating roughly $330,000 to fund a scientific exchange program for medical researchers in Canada and Sweden, with the aim of examining questions around developmental health — tracing the link between illnesses in adults and their formative years.

"When you visit Sick Kids Hospital and see the kids who are sick, even life-threatening ill, and what they’re going through with various treatments, you want to reach out and help," Sundin said at a news conference on Friday. "This program supports scientists trying to understand the most important thing; the importance of the first 2,000 days of our lives."

Jeremy Roenick has a rather large mouth, almost as big as Patrick Roy's ears (have you seen those Stanley Cup rings? They are massive!). Can you see him as an owner?

"We’ll see what happens. But the team is very, very interesting. If you can somehow get a hold of the building along with the team, then it becomes a different scenario."

Roenick currently lives in neighbouring Scottsdale, and according to the Arizona Republic, he was approached weeks ago by Greg Jamison. Jamison — the former CEO of the San Jose Sharks — has expressed his interest in buying the team.

Quebec really wants another NHL team, and apparently they might be closer to having an arena than many thought.

The public rarely sees how stories are made in the mainstream media. But the recent news about Quebec City’s preparedness for the NHL offers a unique exception. It also gives insight into how the In Plain Sight principle works in Canadian media.

Viewers watching Tuesday’s Prime Time Sports on Sportsnet, or listening on Sportsnet Fan 590 Radio, heard an interview with Quebec City lawyer Marcel Aubut, ostensibly about his role as chairman of the Canadian Olympic Association. As the chat neared an end, host Bob McCown casually segued into asking Aubut about the odds of Quebec City getting the financially strapped Phoenix Coyotes. Specifically, when could they have a new arena up and running? Any time now, Aubut said. The financing is in place for a new arena and we’re ready to go, he said. The news about a shovel-ready arena surprised both McCown and co-host Stephen Brunt. Clearly, neither had any idea that the arena plans were so advanced and said so.

Gordie Howe's son is talking about his father's memory loss, he seems to think it has to do with concussions.

But the younger Howe, 57, says he has no doubt his father’s condition is related to concussions, one of hockey’s hot-button issues.

"I can just about guarantee it," Marty said.

"His first year in the league when he went headfirst into the boards, they had to drill a hole in the side of his head to relieve the pressure on his brain. It’s like when you break your arm when you’re 12. At 30, it’s going to hurt you later. It’s the same thing with your brain. I know he’s had other concussions (a teammate once nailed him in the back of the head with a hard clearing pass). You play 33 years at that level without a helmet and things are going to happen."

Overall, Marty said his father "is okay." The son encourages the father to take naps in the afternoon, but at the same time, the family attends "50 to 60" public events a year, which "give him something to look forward to."