Close to 30 NHL players will hit the ice Thursday in support of young people being there for their peers in times of need
Rob Thorsen was just trying to find a way to honor his son.
An aspiring hockey player who was set to enroll at Dexter Southfield School, Hayden Thorsen was just 16 when he died by suicide in May 2022. In the ensuing months, letters of support flowed into the family’s home in Darien, Conn. Phone calls, emails, and photos were shared.
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“A lot of people asked the same question: Who’s going to do what ‘Haydes’ did?” said Thorsen. “What Hayden did was he checked in on people. He was a hand-on-shoulder guy. That’s who he was in the locker room for his teammates, in the classroom, just in life. Every photo I have, he had his hands on my shoulders.”
From that, the Shoulder Check Showcase was born. On Thursday, close to 30 current NHL players will travel to Fairfield, Conn., to participate in the fourth annual event. The organization’s goal is to encourage young people to be there for their peers through action-oriented initiatives that foster social connectedness, creating a culture that everyone can feel a part of.
“I know they say like the three hardest words to say in any language aren’t ‘I love you,’ it’s ‘I need help,’ ” said Thorsen. “We could create a little space for vulnerability, and I think that’s what’s happening. You see guys in the league who are now proactively raising their hands and saying, ‘Hold on a second, I’m carrying something. I need some help putting this down.’ ”
Thorsen credits Gary Zegras, the vice president of the Mid Fairfield program for which Hayden played, as well as Ben Prentiss, who owns and runs Prentiss Performance, a gym in Stamford where Hayden trained, for being among the first to offer their support. Prentiss has trained numerous NHL players over the years. Gary is the father of Flyers forward Trevor Zegras.
“Ben was the first one to suggest we do a game,” said Thorsen. “Gary said, ‘Hey, when you’re ready to do something, we’re in too.’ ”
The first three iterations were held at the Terry Conners Ice Rink in Stamford, Conn., which has a seating capacity of 2,067. This year, the game is moving to Martire Family Arena. Located on the campus of Sacred Heart University and home to the Division 1 Pioneers of Atlantic Hockey America, the venue opened in 2023 and seats 3,600.
The larger, more modern facility will also allow for NHL Network to broadcast the game live, with Brian Boyle, a Hingham native and Boston College alum who played 14 seasons in the NHL, on the broadcast.
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“They’ve been really good supporters,” said Thorsen. “Each year we did a couple segments [on the network], and they got familiar with the program. Then as we got to this year, where we realized we’re in a different place here, we just kind of put the question out there, and we’re really fortunate.”
Trevor Zegras, who played one season at Boston University, and Chris Kreider, a Boxford native and former BC star set to enter his 15th season in the NHL, were quick to volunteer, and they began recruiting other players to join.
Although no Bruins are among the 26 players scheduled to play this year, the organization has included Shoulder Check as part of its Mental Health Awareness Night, with Sophia Jurksztowicz interviewing Thorsen on NESN’s pregame show to promote the program.
Ducks forward Frank Vatrano, who suited up for three seasons with the Bruins, will be lacing up the skates. The East Longmeadow native and UMass alum is one of the many players with local ties taking the ice, with all four Beanpot schools represented.
Blackhawks goalie Spencer Knight also grew up in Darien, Conn., and is another of the eight BC products scheduled to play. Knight and Zegras were teammates on the Mid Fairfield Rangers for two seasons, from 2015-17.
“I’m decidedly in the back seat as it relates to roster management,” said Thorsen. “Guys fly in from across the country on their own dime for it. It’s incredible. Hockey is a different community, and I think that’s for a couple reasons. Of course, it’s the locker room, which is like a sacred place for everybody. But then also, it takes a lot of sacrifice to be a hockey player, whether it’s money, time, travel, all that stuff. And I think everybody kind of feels that and wants to give back, and we’re the recipients of that in that way.”
This year’s Showcase expands beyond the game with family programming, including live music, outdoor activities, and player meet-and-greets. Tickets for Thursday night’s game can be purchased at Ticketmaster.com. Puck drop is 6 p.m.
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