Tavares, Leafs make donation to frontline healthcare workers

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought out the best in a lot of people, including several hockey players. That includes Toronto Maple Leafs captain John Tavares and his teammates who have donated an undisclosed amount of money to support front-line workers at two hospitals in the Toronto area — Trillium Health Partners and Mount Sinai Hospital.

Everything they’re sacrificing and the risks that they’re taking … it’s very moving and it’s very heroic,” the 29-year-old centre said in phone interview with The Canadian Press. “At times it’s hard to find the words.

“It’s a real challenge, but they’re doing everything they can to help everyone they can fight this virus and get things back to normal.”

The money was handed over to the hospitals’ respective foundations and they are distributing it as they see fit.

“It was great the way guys came together with this initiative,” Tavares said. “We’ve seen through many other sports, many other athletes trying to find ways to help any way they can.”

Along with other sports franchises in the city, Leafs players had already made sure arena/stadium staff were taken care of through the Team Toronto fund as leagues across North America suspended their seasons amid the crippling novel coronavirus outbreak. However, Tavares said he and his teammates felt like they needed to do something more.

Tavares’ wife Aryne is a Rehabilitation and Physiotherapy graduate who once worked at a hospital.