Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Morgan Rielly isn’t your typical teenage hockey player.
The Moose Jaw Warriors defenceman is quickly becoming one of the most talked about NHL prospects in the Western Hockey League, and he’s using some of that spotlight to help bring attention to a charitable cause that is important to him.
Rielly, 18, is heavily involved with the ‘Stick it to Cancer’ initiative that was started by Warriors assistant coach Mike Vandenberghe. The team has been raising money throughout October and on Sunday, they will have ‘Stick it to Cancer’ night where they will give out t-shirts signed by the 18-year-old Rielly.
The Leafs No. 1 pick in 2012 will discuss his involvement and commitment to the ‘Stick to Cancer’ cause Friday night on Sportsnet Connected.
new Stick It To Cancer shirt, All proceeds going to the hospital to help with the fight against cancer @redgoat_united twitter.com/mriles4/status…
— morgan rielly (@mriles4) September 27, 2012
don’t forget to show your support for the #stickittocancer fund and get your shirt on the 28th at the @mjwarriors game twitter.com/mriles4/status…
— morgan rielly (@mriles4) October 22, 2012
According to the team’s website, they have already raised $16,000 and funds will be donated to Moose Jaw Union Hospital to help in the purchase of equipment for breast cancer patients.
Rielly’s grandfather died from cancer when he was two-years old, and the young defenceman is trying to do all he can to support the ‘Stick it to Cancer’ cause.
great day at the Hospital today seeing some patients, pick up a Stick It To Cancer T-shirt to show your support for the fight against cancer
— morgan rielly (@mriles4) October 12, 2012
On the ice, Rielly has been a strong performer thus far for the WHL’s Warriors. The speedy puck-moving defenceman has compiled four goals and 15 points with a plus-4 rating heading into Friday’s action.
Also on Connected, Ian Mendes and Arash Madani have reports from the San Francisco Giants and Detroit Tigers as the World Series shifts to Detroit for Game 3 on Saturday.
The Tigers are hoping to change the momentum of the series with three games coming up at home after their offence came up empty in San Francisco. The Tigers players have been able to sustain success in recent seasons and a big reason has been the leadership and commitment to winning from owner Mike Illitch. He has provided the Tigers with the resources to succeed and is willing to win at all costs.
