Garrett McFadden of Kincardine named Hockey Canada Community Champion

Garrett McFadden of Kincardine says it is a great honour to be recognized as a Hockey Canada Community Champion.

The 24-year-old, currently playing hockey with the Acadia Axemen in Nova Scotia, was featured in a video on the Hockey Canada website, Oct. 10, and received his own Hockey Canada jersey and a Scotiabank prize package, at Acadia’s home opener, Oct. 8.

“This is pretty good,” says McFadden, “especially coming from Hockey Canada!

“I want to share this with my family and all the people who have helped with McFadden’s Movement. Hopefully, this will allow the movement to grow and people will figure out what it is – and we can make a difference.”

McFadden’s Movement, founded in 2016 after the loss of a close family friend, is a program to help change and develop mental health among athletes, starting at the grassroots level.

McFadden has spoken to a number of minor hockey organizations and school groups, and has continued to be an advocate for mental health since going to play for the Axemen.

He and the movement have also donated a total of $78,200 to mental health resources in just five years, including back-to-back $20,000 donations in 2018 and 2019, a $10,000 donation in 2020, and a $20,000 donation in 2021.

McFadden has won the Ontario Hockey League (OHL)’s Humanitarian of the Year award twice - in 2017 and 2018.

He says the movement is important to put a spotlight on mental health, and to make it a priority in sports, especially hockey. “We need to keep the momentum going, so players know where they can get help when they need it, and we can make the conversation around mental health just that much easier.”

McFadden says the movement was well-received five years ago when he started it.

“It’s important that people realize this is an issue, and that athletes speak out and talk about their struggles with mental health,” he says. “I had a lot of support from my teammates, family and friends, back in 2016 when I was playing with the Guelph Storm.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has made things even more difficult. Wes for Youth on-line counselling (based in Walkerton) is busier than ever. People are struggling, but the public is more aware of the problem and the resources available. We just have to keep up the momentum.”

For more about McFadden's Movement, visit mcfaddensmovement.com/

As for the Hockey Canada jersey, McFadden says he is in Nova Scotia until Christmas and then he’s coming home to Kincardine and plans to hang it in his room.

The Hockey Canada Community Champion program, presented by Scotiabank, is focused on highlighting Canadians who are making a positive impact on the hockey community.

To view McFadden's Hockey Canada video, visit video.hockeycanada.ca/en/c/hcc-hockey-canada-champion-garrett-mcfadden.107468

Back in March, Jill Fraser, also of Kincardine, was recognized as a hockey champion.



Dr. Peter Ricketts (left), president and vice-chancellor of Acadia University, presents the Hockey Canada jersey to Garrett McFadden, at the Acadia Axemen’s home opener, Oct. 8; photo courtesy of Acadia University/Hockey Canada Images