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London, Ontario. –
It probably won’t look like its glory days, but former Toronto Maple Leaf and London Knight star Daryl Sittler is excited to lace up his skates for a good cause, with Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment (MLSE) taking the lead.
“We are an organization that likes to give back to the community and get involved to provide better opportunities or opportunities for those who live in these communities,” Sittler says.
The NBA’s Toronto Raptors are holding an open training session in Budweiser Gardens on Saturday at 4 p.m. and the Leafs alumni will play a game on Sunday at 2 p.m.
Budweiser Gardens and MLSE officials say the events are part of an anti-hatred stance following the deaths of four members of the Afzaal family in early June. They were hit by a vehicle in London in what police said was a hate crime.
Another former Leaf captain, Wendel Clark, is also attending Sunday and says, “It’s really about taking a big first step in the healing process.”
Nawaz Tahir is the director of the Hikma Public Affairs Council, which advocates the advocacy and public participation of Muslims in and around London: “Think of the impact on our children who are also somehow afraid. Seeing some of the people they look up to, the Raptors players, the Leafs players that are part of it, really gives a psychological boost. “
The money raised through the events will be fed through MLSE’s Change the Game campaign. Sittler says MLSE will work with the City of London and others to build a legacy program to support youth in the community.
“The power behind this message, the leadership that Maple Leaf Sports is coming to London and doing is really heartwarming,” says Tahir.
Tickets for the Raptors’ open training and the Leafs alumni game can be purchased on the Budweiser Gardens website.
