Hockey Gives Blood
Hockey Gives Blood has partnered nationally with Canadian Blood Services to raise awareness for the importance of blood, plasma, stem cell, organ and tissue and financial donations, amongst the hockey community.
Hockey Gives Blood is a non-profit organization founded by a group of former hockey players. The team is dedicated to encouraging members of the hockey community to help save lives and ensuring that patients in Canada have access to the blood products they need, when and where they need them. Their passion for hockey is as distinct as their passion for saving lives.
At Canadian Blood Services, saving lives takes teamwork.
Experience what you get when you give together. Join our team!
How to join the Hockey Gives Blood Partners for Life team:
- Set up an account on blood.ca/pfl or on the GiveBlood app for Apple or Android
- Select “partners” from the menu
- Select “join a team” and type Hockey Gives Blood in the search bar
- You can join the national team as well as your local hockey team.
Book your next appointment either through your team bookings (visible under your team when a Champion has worked with Canadian Blood Services and reserved a block of appointments) or as an individual.
Hockey Gives Blood Player Ambassador Program
The Hockey Gives Blood Player Ambassador program engages young developing hockey players from across Canada who have been recognized by their peers as influential champions. These ambassadors diligently promote the ongoing need for blood, stem cells, organ and tissue and financial donations to help save lives.
Many dedicated player ambassadors are donors themselves with personal connections to the cause that motivate them to make a meaningful difference for patients in their communities. The shared goal of all ambassadors is to help inspire the next generation of donors to join Canada’s Lifeline.
Feel what it’s like to be a hero on and off the ice
Canadian Blood Services is looking for hockey playing heroes across Canada to support patients by booking appointments to donate blood, platelets and plasma this season.
Find out how your team can save lives together by organizing a group donation or how your league can adopt a day or week at a nearby donation centre. To learn more, contact pfl@blood.ca.
Player Ambassador Spotlight: Carson Wetsch
Carson Wetsch shows his support for patients as a Hockey Gives Blood player ambassador. Not only has this right winger hosted a community donation event, but he has also been a leader in encouraging his teammates to join Canadian Blood Services stem cell registry and spent a generous amount of time being a positive role-model to Colton — a young hockey lover who was diagnosed with leukemia at two-years-old, followed by six years of treatment.
Colton received over 60 transfusions of blood and blood products that helped save his life. His friendship with Carson reflects Carson’s character, humility and kindness. These were all traits that the late Dayna Brons was known for, which is why Hockey Gives Blood was proud to name Carson as the 2025 recipient of the Dayna Brons Honourary Award — recognizing players who make a significant contribution to spotlighting the necessity for Canada’s Lifeline.
Together, Carson and Colton inspire the hockey community and showcase the vital connection between donor, recipient.
Player Ambassador Spotlight: Cole MacKay
Since the Hockey Gives Blood movement and player ambassador program was established five years ago, Cole has been involved. As a championship-winning player at the university level, he’s also championed several donation events, stem cell recruitment events, fundraising game nights, and awareness events to promote the vital role of Canadian Blood Services in the lives of patients.
Through it all, he’s inspired the hockey community with his consistent, selfless, humble leadership. This is why Hockey Gives Blood was proud to name him as the 2025 recipient of the Cameron Bulger Memorial Award. It recognizes players who embody these traits of the late Cameron Bulger to raise awareness for Canada’s Lifeline within the USPORTS community. Cole's passion to give back has significantly impacted others and has undoubtedly helped save and improve the lives of Canadians.
Player Ambassador Spotlight: Alicia Souveny
From blood donor, to recipient, to team Canada
Four years after a terrifying freeway crash left Alicia Souveny with life-altering injuries, she’s excelling in sport with a national team — and so grateful to the blood donors who helped make it possible. Alicia is now also a player ambassador for Hockey Gives Blood — the first such ambassador from the para-hockey community. In a way she has come full circle. Edmonton’s hockey community supported her through fundraising from her earliest days in hospital and organized blood donation events in her honour. Now, as a player ambassador, she inspires blood donors to help others.
