Tilbury Area Public School (TAPS) has launched a skating program for its students thanks to a donation from a recent Stanley Cup champion.
Brandon Montour gifted his former school with enough brand-new equipment, including skates, helmets, and gloves, to create a skating program to get kids up and moving on the ice.
The Lambton-Kent District School Board (LKDSB) said the program was created following discussions between Montour and TAPS, who decided it was the perfect initiative.
The NHL Players' Association (NHLPA) was also instrumental in helping the program come to being.
"We are incredibly grateful to Brandon Montour and the NHLPA for their generosity," said Kristen Fenlon a TAPS teacher. "This donation will make a significant difference in the lives of our students, providing them with the opportunity to experience the joy of skating."
Montour spent eight years in Tilbury and played hockey and lacrosse in Chatham-Kent and Windsor before he moved to Oshweken with his family.
He was drafted by the Anaheim Ducks in the second round of the 2014 NHL Draft and made his debut with the team in December 2016.
The defenceman was traded to the Buffalo Sabres in 2019 where he stayed until he was traded to the Florida Panthers in 2021.
After signing a three-year extension in Florida, Montour's game grew by leaps and bounds. In 2022-2023, he tied for fifth-best defenseman in the league with 16 goals and 73 points. He led all blue-liners through the first round of the 2023 playoffs with five goals in seven games.
He was part of the Stanley Cup winning Panthers team for 2023-2024.
Currently, Montour plays for the Seattle Kraken. So far this season, he has nine points in 12 games including four goals and 5 assists.