NEWS RELEASE
ONTARIO HOCKEY LEAGUE
*************************
February is here, signalling the start of CMHA Talk Today Month across the Ontario Hockey League.
The Talk Today program is presented by Syngenta Canada and Grain Farmers of Ontario as the league’s partnership with the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) continues in its ninth season.
Throughout February, the OHL’s 17 Ontario-based member teams will host mental health awareness games in collaboration with their local CMHA branch. The game-day experience will have several features that will serve to promote the importance of mental health, including:
- A CMHA-run kiosk on the concourse where fans can learn more about mental health and the organization’s community-based services
- A ceremonial puck drop and photo opportunity with local CMHA branches
- Videos featuring OHL players talking about the importance of mental health in their day-to-day experience
- Public service announcements about mental health and the Canadian Mental Health Association
- A CMHA fundraising component
Originally launched by CMHA Ontario in partnership with the OHL in 2014, Talk Today provides an important opportunity to address the mental health needs of athletes across Canada. Through this program, over 1,450 OHL players and over 550 coaches, billets and staff have received mental health and suicide prevention training across the league.
The key piece of the Talk Today program has been to educate players about mental health and suicide prevention. Each team is also linked to a CMHA mental health coach, who provides support and mental health resources to individuals in need.
To learn more about the CMHA Talk Today program presented by Syngenta Canada and Grain Farmers of Ontario, click here.
CMHA Talk Today mental health awareness games:
Sunday, Feb. 5 — Guelph Storm (CMHA Waterloo-Wellington-Dufferin)
Sunday, Feb. 5 — Sudbury Wolves (CMHA Sudbury-Manitoulin)
Tuesday, Feb. 7 — Niagara IceDogs (CMHA Niagara)
Thursday, Feb. 9 — Barrie Colts (CMHA Simcoe County)
Friday, Feb. 10 — Kingston Frontenacs (CMHA Kingston)
Friday, Feb. 10 — Kitchener Rangers (CMHA Waterloo-Wellington-Dufferin)
Friday, Feb. 10 — Mississauga Steelheads (CMHA Peel)
Wednesday, Feb. 15 — Soo Greyhounds (CMHA Sault Ste. Marie)
Thursday, Feb. 16 — North Bay Battalion (CMHA Nipissing)
Sunday, Feb. 19 — Hamilton Bulldogs (CMHA Hamilton)
Wednesday, Feb. 22 — Owen Sound Attack (CMHA Grey Bruce)
Thursday, Feb. 23 — Peterborough Petes (CMHA Haliburton-Kawartha-Pine Ridge)
Friday, Feb. 24 — Ottawa 67’s (CMHA Ottawa)
Sunday, Feb. 26 — Oshawa Generals (CMHA Durham)
*************************
