(Photo: WHL)

By rdnewsNOW staff

Moving forward

WHL teams revamp organ donation promotion without Don Cherry

Jan 13, 2020 | 3:26 PM

The Western Hockey League has announced how it will be promoting organ donation without having Don Cherry as the face of the campaign.

For the past two seasons, the league promoted “WHL Suits Up with Don Cherry to Promote Organ Donation” which saw its teams wear Don Cherry-themed jerseys that were auctioned off in support of the Kidney Foundation of Canada. The campaign has rasied more than $460,000

This year, in the wake of Cherry’s firing for controversial comments he made on Hockey Night in Canada in November, the campaign is simply known as “WHL Suits Up to Promote Organ Donation.”

From Jan. 17 to Mar. 15, WHL member Clubs in 17 Canadian markets will host a theme game complete with special-edition Hockey Night in Canada-inspired jerseys. On the ice, teams will honour the Canadian television tradition with specialty jerseys featuring the iconic Hockey Night in Canada vintage logo that will be auctioned off in support of the Kidney Foundation.

The Red Deer Rebels will be taking part when they host the Winnipeg ICE at the Westerner Park Centrium on Jan. 31.

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Don Cherry’s presence will still be noticed to a lesser extent as two additional jerseys autographed by Cherry will be up for auction as well. Those in attendance will also have the chance to win a commemorative bobblehead Cherry and Ron MacLean.

“The Western Hockey League is very proud to continue working alongside our longstanding partner RE/MAX of Western Canada to help generate further support for the Kidney Foundation,” commented WHL Commissioner Ron Robison, in a release. “We are excited to celebrate the history of Hockey Night in Canada, Coach’s Corner, as well as raising awareness of the Logan Boulet Effect in this year’s edition of WHL Suits Up to Promote Organ Donation.”

New this year, WHL Clubs will also pay tribute to the Logan Boulet Effect. A member of the SJHL’s Humboldt Broncos, Boulet passed away in the tragic bus crash that claimed the lives of 16 people on April 6, 2018.

Boulet – who was only 21-years-old at the time – earned widespread, posthumous commendation for his decision to have previously signed his organ donation card, ensuring a selfless act that provided the gift of life to others, and sparked a national movement for organ donation registration at the same time.

WHL players will also wear special helmet decals to create awareness of “Green Shirt Day,” a campaign started in Boulet’s honour to promote organ donation. In addition to the decals adorning helmets, the specially-themed jerseys will be emblazoned with text reading “The Logan Boulet Effect” on the inside collar.

To learn more, visit canadadonates.ca.