A Powerful Day of Hockey and Mental Health Awareness
STAMFORD, Conn. — On a day filled with emotion, inspiration, and high-caliber hockey, the second annual Shoulder Check Showcase took place at Terry Conners Rink. This event, which aims to promote mental health awareness, attracted thousands of fans and over 30 professional ice hockey players from the NHL and PWHL. It also honored the memory of Hayden Thorsen, a young hockey player who tragically died by suicide in 2022.
A Special Collaboration
200×85 is proud to support the Shoulder Check organization and has partnered with them to host a 14U showcase. This showcase kicks off the day following the Shoulder Check Showcase, highlighting our commitment to fostering both mental health awareness and youth hockey development.
Kevin Mann, CEO of 200×85, attended the Shoulder Check Showcase to show his support. He was deeply impressed by the event’s impact and the community’s turnout. “Seeing the hockey community come together to support such an important cause is truly inspiring,” Mann said. “The energy in the rink was visible, and the message of reaching out and checking in on each other resonated with everyone present. I can’t think of a better way to kick off the 14U Showcase”
View the Shoulder Check 14U Showcase schedule.
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Honoring Hayden Thorsen
The Shoulder Check Showcase pays tribute to Hayden Thorsen by encouraging young people to support their peers through simple, yet powerful actions. During the event, players circled up at center ice, placed a hand on the shoulder of the player next to them, and recited the Shoulder Check pledge: “I promise to… Reach Out…Check In…Make Contact.” This act symbolizes the core mission of the organization: to foster social connectedness and ensure no one feels isolated.
Rob Thorsen, founder of Shoulder Check and Hayden’s father, shared, “The Shoulder Check is all about a hand on a shoulder. Oftentimes, we say checking in on someone is as simple as a hand on a shoulder. You never know who might need a hand, but we all have a hand to give, and the more we’re checking on people, the more likely we are to find somebody who needs a hand.”
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A Growing Movement
Since its inception, the Shoulder Check initiative has seen incredible growth. This year’s event featured an impressive lineup of stars, including NHL players like Chris Kreider, Trevor Zegras, Matt Rempe, and Jonathan Quick, who joined forces to raise awareness for mental health. The event’s success has been a testament to the power of community and the importance of mental health in sports.
Year two of the Shoulder Check Showcase drew plenty of attention, NHL, ESPN and the Athletic were all on site and also featured the first ever skills showcase which included celebrity creators On The Bench, Coach Chippy, Swaggy Pete, Makayla Le, and Kane Van Gate. As the skills showcase concluded, special guest Don Maloney and John Brancy, New York Rangers Anthem Singer, helped kick us off the celebrity game.
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As the 14U showcase kicks off, 200×85 remains committed to supporting Shoulder Check’s mission. We believe in the importance of fostering a supportive environment both on and off the ice, and events like these help spread that message far and wide.
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Looking Ahead
Kevin Mann expressed optimism about the future of this partnership, saying, “We are excited to continue our collaboration with Shoulder Check and look forward to making an even bigger impact together. Our 14U showcase is not just about hockey; it’s about building a community that looks out for one another.”
Together, we can make a difference by reaching out, checking in, and making contact. Let’s continue to honor Hayden’s legacy by supporting each other both on and off the ice.