The Chatham Maroons will soon host the second annual "Face Off for Mental Health" hockey game.
The Maroons are the reigning champions of the Greater Ontario Hockey League (GOHL), having won the Sutherland Cup for the second time in franchise history in 2025. With that, comes pressure and expectations on players to be part of and carry on a winning legacy, explained Cathy DeBresser Knowler, Chair of The Mental Health Table of Chatham-Kent.
"These realities highlight why conversations about mental health in sports are so important," she added. "Behind every game and every goal, athletes face challenges that can impact their well-being, and we want to ensure they have the support they need."
The game, on Saturday, January 18 isn't just about the athletes. It's also an effort to raise mental health awareness and support for anyone struggling.
"By partnering for this awareness game, we hope to spark meaningful conversations and empower players, families, and fans to recognize the signs of struggle and know where to find help," said DeBresser Knowler.
The players will wear special green jerseys during warm-ups at this year's game, which will be auctioned off, with proceeds going toward mental health literacy programming through the Face Off for Mental Health initiative.
Fans are also asked to wear green on the 18th, to show support for the cause. They're also invited to write notes for the Maroons players, to help keep them motivated. Those messages will be delivered after the game.
This year's event will also feature a poster contest. Fans are invited to create posters showing how they plan to help break the stigma around mental health. Winners will receive a Maroons prize pack with tickets, snacks, a locker room tour, and a photo with players in green jerseys.
The partnership between the Maroons and the Mental Health Table began in December 2023, when players helped create a commercial for the BeSafe app, a tool designed to connect people to local mental health resources quickly and easily.
