Dave Maloney was already invested in the Shoulder Check initiative after what became a two-hour coffee with Rob Thorsen — the father of the inspiration behind the charity, Hayden Thorsen, a local goalie who took his own life in May 2022, at age 16.
During the pregame ceremony of the cause’s inaugural event last summer, however, the former Ranger saw how much it resonated with hockey fans and recognized just how important the charity’s message truly was.
“The emotion of the ceremony,” Maloney recalled to The Post over the phone Wednesday. “There seemed to be a buy-in, right? It was quiet.”
Rangers left wing Chris Kreider (20) at the Shoulder Check Showcase Game featuring NHL Players Thursday, August 3, 2023.
NHL and PWHL players, both current and new, will take part in the ceremony once again Thursday for the second annual Shoulder Check Showcase game at Terry Conners Rink in Stamford, Conn.
Circling up at center ice before the puck drops, players will take the Shoulder Check pledge by placing a hand on the shoulder of the player next to them and saying, “I promise to … reach out … check in … make contact.”
These words were chosen to capture and honor Hayden Thorsen.
Thorsen, who wore No. 40 on the ice, was a talented hockey player and a friend to all.
Those who knew him best said he was always the one to reach out to teammates and check in, which is now at the heart of the Shoulder Check initiative.
The hope is that Thorsen’s story will encourage young people to “simply be there for their peers through action-oriented initiatives that foster social connectedness.”
His parents and co-founders of the #HT40 Foundation, Rob Thorsen and Sarah Thompson, have seen more than 10,000 people across the country take the Shoulder Check pledge.
Nearly 80 current and former professional players have joined. Additionally, NHL and PWHL clubs from Boston to Washington have partnered with the Shoulder Check for arena-based game-day activations engaging tens of thousands of fans.
Hayden Thorsen is the inspiration for the Shoulder Check charity.
#HT40 was founded in 2022 in honor of Hayden Thorsen. The organization aims to bring people together through kindness and compassion, just as he did throughout his life.
