Honoring Brad Scheifele Through Hockey’s Humanity
After the Winnipeg Jets’ overtime loss to the Dallas Stars, players from both teams huddled toward center Mark Scheifele to offer their condolences following the passing of his father. Despite the news, Scheifele chose to play in Saturday’s Game Six, scoring the Jets’ only goal of the night in an emotional display of strength. In a show of support, fans from both Winnipeg and Dallas have donated to the charities Scheifele supports. With thousands of dollars raised and counting, the gesture has become a powerful reminder of how hockey communities rally together in moments far bigger than the game.
The Stars community has not turned a blind eye to this tragedy. Ryan Grimes, a Stars fan, started an online donation campaign in memory of Brad Scheifele in a Stars subreddit. He encouraged fellow fans to contribute to KidSport and the True North Youth Foundation—two causes that Scheifele supports. Grimes felt compelled to take action because, in his words, “My dad is my ultimate hero, and I don’t know where I’d be if he passed.”
The True North Youth Foundation supports children throughout Winnipeg in achieving their full physical, social, emotional, and intellectual growth. Dwayne Green, the foundation’s executive director, shared that they have received more than $55,000 in donations and have already begun putting that money toward creating a scholarship in Brad’s memory. He wants “to include Mark and his entire family in the process” to ensure it is a meaningful tribute to Brad’s legacy and the values he passed on to his son. He also noted that through this, “someone took the pain that Mark was going through, and they’ve decided to create something wonderful out of it.”
Another Stars fan proposed donating "$55 for 55," a nod to Scheifele’s jersey number. In a powerful show of solidarity, organizations have gone well beyond that symbolic gesture. The Dallas Stars organization donated $5,500 following the game, while Skip, a Canadian online food delivery service, matched the contribution. Together, these efforts reflect how moments of compassion can transcend competition.
Brad Scheifele was a regular presence on Jets guest trips in recent seasons, always showing up to support his son. Jets captain Adam Lowry, who has played alongside Mark for many years, noted the passing, saying, “It’s a terrible loss.” Scheifele’s quiet strength on the ice and the overwhelming response off it have turned grief into something deeply meaningful. In the face of tragedy, the hockey world came together, not as rivals, but as one family.
