RICK NASH OFF THE ICE: GOOD GUY FEELS “LUCKY TO GIVE”

A while back we posted a story on the three nominees for the 11th annual NHL Foundation Player Award, given in recognition of a player’s commitment and service to their community. Presented on June 18th at the 2009 NHL Awards in Las Vegas, Rick Nash of the Columbus Blue Jackets nabbed the honor, which came with $25,000 to be donated to the charity of his choice.

Photo: Columbus Blue Jackets/Jamie Sabau

Hugbackercaught up with the classy left winger to chat about his many off-the-ice charitable endeavors, and found the 25-year old team captain (who just signed an eight-year contract extension) to be not only a huge contributor to the community, but one who feels fortunate and honored to do so. Humility, generosity, and ridiculous talent all rolled into one…Ontario grows ‘em good!

HB: Hey Rick, congrats on the new contract, not to mention the Foundation Player Award. Growing up, were you raised in an atmosphere of volunteerism and/or community involvement, or did it come about more due to entering into professional sports?

Nash:  I didn’t really see it a lot growing up. I came from a family that scratched to get by, so I’ve seen both sides of it. I feel pretty lucky and privileged to be where I am now. I think I’ve surrounded myself with pretty good people who have helped me along the way and made me understand how important it is to give back.

HB: Instead of having your own foundation, as so many athletes do, you choose to support other organizations, at least for now.

Nash: I think I will eventually get there. Everything has been such a roller coaster. I remember coming here and signing my first contract, playing my first game, and next thing you know I’m eight years in the league and probably signing one of my last contracts. I think I will eventually definitely go down that avenue, but right now there are so many good charities and foundations to support, like the Blue Jackets Foundation, and I’m more than happy to donate to them.

Photo: bluejacketsfoundation.org

HB: Can you tell me a little about the “Rick Bands” program? [The program was developed to promote leadership and character among local youth, the proceeds from which benefited the Columbus Blue Jackets Foundation for fighting pediatric cancer and promoting education and children's health and safety.]

Nash: Yeah, that was fun. It was inspired by Lance Armstrong’s LIVESTRONG bands. We had the idea for Rick Bands and they said three different things. I think the guys got a kick out of it. My family probably loved it the most. Surprisingly, my mom actually might still wear one.

HB: You donated $100,000 to the Ohio State University Athletics Department. How did that come about?

Nash: The Buckeyes are obviously a huge part of Columbus, but before I got here I didn’t know anything about Ohio State or NCAA football because we don’t hear anything about that in Canada. So to come here and see what the university means to the community was amazing. There are a lot of student-athletes who don’t have full scholarship who want to compete here and I thought it was pretty sad for them not to be able to. For me, to give one kid a scholarship to let him or her do what they love and get a great education at the same time is the least I can do. It’s just very exciting to have someone on your scholarship and know you’re helping put them through school.

HB: Where did the inspiration come from for the #61 Club?  [Nash's #61 Club encourages elementary and middle school kids throughout Central Ohio to make good choices and develop healthy habits.]

Nash: My advisors and I thought it would be a great idea to donate tickets to kids who can’t afford or might not otherwise have the opportunity to come to a game. We thought it would be nice to have a program that also puts them up to a healthy challenge. It’s fun to see those kids at games wearing their #61 Club shirts and knowing they earned it from making 61 healthy choices. It’s just another thing I consider to be the least I can do to give back.

Photo:  2ksports.com

HB: Do you have one charitable organization that’s particularly close to your heart?

Nash: I always donate to breast cancer. My grandma suffered from breast cancer, but she is a survivor which is pretty special. That will probably always hold the closest spot to my heart. Also, it is obviously always special to donate to sick kids and children’s hospitals.

HB: How did you get involved with Santa’s Silent Helpers?

Nash: A friend who had been doing it for years brought it to my attention and I thought it was a great idea. It’s sad that kids in some areas of Columbus don’t have anything to open on Christmas morning. Growing up, my family wasn’t the wealthiest, but my parents always found a way to make sure I had a gift to open. It is special for me to be able to donate some money and make sure those Columbus kids have something to open on Christmas morning too.

HB: I hear you donated some money to help out the Quebec Pee Wee League’s Blue Jackets team with travel expenses to the annual tournament. Do you get to spend any time with them?

Nash: I was happy to help them get there and practiced with them once before the tournament. I grew up playing minor hockey and it’s tough. It’s an expensive sport. Parents working full-time also have to work to get their kids to practice and pay for equipment and travel. It feels good to help minor hockey because I saw first-hand how my parents struggled from time to time to give me that chance to play.

Photo: bluejackets.nhl.com

HB: You were one of the founding donors to the John H. McConnell Scholarship Fund. Were you close to him? [McConnell, the team's beloved owner and founder, passed away in 2008.]

Nash: We always had a special bond, but it was also obviously tough on the whole city, the organization, and every player when he passed. Donating to the fund was the least I could do to honor him as he was such a special man. It is also a good foundation for a high school student who shows the kind of leadership like Mr. Mac had. As the captain of our team, it just felt right.

HB: What do you do in your free time?

Nash: I love to golf. I have a lake house in Ontario, so my buddies and I also like to spend time up there boating, fishing, having campfires, watching movies and doing all pretty laid back stuff.

HB: What have you been doing in the off-season? Any travel?

Nash: I went on a trip to Scotland where my family is from and got to meet some family for the first time which was exciting. Also, obviously coming to Columbus to sign my contract is a highlight too.

HB: You’ve been invited to attend the Canadian Team National Orientation in August. I know you’ve done it all before, but is it still exciting knowing you’ll be back out there internationally with Team Canada again?

Nash: Anytime you get to play for your country at the highest level is exciting; especially since it’ll be in Canada, it will be fun. The first time I didn’t do too well as we placed sixth or seventh, so we’ve got a lot to prove. I hope I’ll be able to impress people, have a good start to the season and make the team.

HB: Anything new in terms of charitable events coming up on the horizon?

Nash: I have Jake’s House for children with autism back in Canada that I have been the spokesperson for for the past three years. I’ll also be involved in the Pelotonia Bike Ride for cancer research at the end of August in Columbus. Other than that, I’m looking forward to the Blue Jackets Foundation Golf Tournament which  is coming up soon as well, which is always fun and raises a lot of money.

HB: If you weren’t a professional athlete, what do you think you’d be doing?

Nash: I would probably be a police officer or a gym teacher. Both are still athletic and I think would be pretty fun.

Spreadin’ the love:  Nash has chosen the following four charities to receive donations from monies awarded from winning the NHL Foundation Player Award:  Columbus Blue Jackets Foundation, John H. McConnell Scholarship Fund, Pelotonia, and Tim Hortons Children’s Foundation.

NOMINEES ANNOUNCED FOR NHL FOUNDATION PLAYER AWARD

As the annual NHL Awards show approaches–and travels the miles from Toronto to make its debut in Las Vegas– the nominees were announced for the 11th annual Foundation Player Award, given in recognition of a player’s commitment to enriching the lives of people in their community. The three players up for the distinction–and the $25,000 donated by the NHL to the charity of their choice–are Dustin Brown of the Los Angeles Kings, Alex Kovalev of the Montreal Canadiens, and Rick Nash of the Columbus Blue Jackets.

The Palms Casino Resort will host the show in its superplush Pearl Concert Theater on June 18th, promising to bring the ambiance, energy, and entertainment level of the annual awards show to a whole new glitzy, Vegas-ey level. But onto the important stuff…the nominees!

DUSTIN BROWN, Los Angeles Kings

Photo: Noah Graham/NHLI via Getty

Brown is immensely active in programs that address childhood obesity and the pursuit of an active, healthy lifestyle for kids. He donated $50 for each of his 285 this season to KaBOOM!, a nonprofit whose mission it is to provide places to play for all children within walking distance of their neighborhood. Brown is also a spokesman for the Children’s Cancer Research Fund, as well as a staunch supporter of Childrens Hospital Los Angeles and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

ALEX KOVALEV, Montreal Canadiens

Photo: canadienswatch.com

Kovalev established the Kovalev and Friends Foundation for Children, which sends doctors to Russia to perform medical procedures and teach skills to local surgeons. Children in Quebec also benefit from the foundation through summer camps and other programs. Last year Kovalev produced a DVD of hockey tips and training methods, donating 100% of the proceeds-$120,000 to date!–to the Gift of Life Foundation, which provides kids with open heart surgeries.

RICK NASH, Columbus Blue Jackets

Nash created the #61 Club, which encourages students to make healthy choices and rewards them with tickets to Blue Jackets home games for doing so. He donated $100,000 to the Ohio State University Athletic Dept. to endow a student-athlete scholarship, and was a founding donor of the John H. McConnell Scholarship Fund. Nash also donates $15,000 annually to Santa’s Silent Helpers, which assists Ohio families, single mothers, and elderly experiencing financial hardship.

Frankly, these off-the-ice activities are only the tip of the iceberg for Brown, Kovalev, and Nash when it comes to giving back; all three contribute WAAAYY more to improving the lives of others than we’ll even attempt to list. Simply put, each is an above-and-beyond rockstar nominee for the NHL Foundation Player Award.

As for the outcome of the award, you KNOW we’ll keep you posted…stay tuned!