Daily Cupcakes - Links From Around the NHL - August 27th, 2012

The NHLPA has had a busy summer. They recently gave gear to help Logan Couture's charity game. On August 15th, they gave gear in memory of Rick Rypien.

The NHLPA, through its Goals & Dreams fund, also donated new hockey equipment to the Crowsnest Pass community in Rypien’s name.

"Rick loved giving back to the kids in Crowsnest and this donation only furthers his legacy," said Rypien’s brother Wes. "It was great to have Kevin, Kris, Tanner and Darcy here to be part of this special event."

There was a charity game in Barrie, Ontario recently that raised $226,000 in one night. Not listed, Darcy Tucker also took part in the event.

Player liaisons like Stew Garner, Hall of Famer Mike Gartner and NHL legend Dale Hawerchuk were so terrific in helping to deliver the all-star line-up to the ice at the Barrie Molson Centre. Current NHL superstars such as Steve Downie (Colorado Avalanche), Bryan Little (Winnipeg), Raffi Torres (Phoenix), Matt Beleskey (Anaheim) and Corey Perry (Anaheim) along with so many NHL alumni including former Maple Leafs players Doug Gilmour, Mark Osborne and Steve Thomas gave generously of their time and they put on a terrific show for the capacity crowd in attendance.

Sheldon Kennedy is also doing some charity work, this is his fourth year with the charity game.

Only in its fourth year running, the annual Wild Rose Hockey Challenge has now raised more than $200,000 for Victim Services in the Wild Rose constituency, which has organizer and Member of Parliament Blake Richards quite proud.

As he raised a cheque of $78,000 over his head Saturday afternoon — the total brought in by this year’s game at the Canmore Recreation Centre — Richards thanked all of the supporters and players who came out for charity.

For Richards, raising money for victim services is an important cause.