Habs player Mike Matheson thrills kids with heartwarming school visit – Montreal | 24CA News
Montreal Canadiens participant Mike Matheson believes it’s necessary to present again to his neighborhood.
So with the Habs out of the playoffs and his hockey season over, the defenceman took off his skates and donned trainers as a substitute Monday morning, spending a number of hours visiting and talking with kids at St. Gabriel’s Elementary School in Pointe St. Charles.
“It’s so nice to give back to our future and kids,” Matheson stated. “They clearly just love having visitors, and I love having the opportunity to do that during their day.”
The Champions for Life Foundation organized the go to. Matheson is an envoy for the group, which inspires bodily exercise and motion in younger kids.
“Who knows how it will impact their lives. The impact is today but it could be forever,” stated David Arsenault, the inspiration’s founder.
“Mike is a natural father and a natural with kids. I have known Mike since he was 12 years old. I got to train him as an athlete, I saw him grow up as a teenager. He is passionate about not just his sport but physical activity and staying active.”
Twenty-nine-year-old Matheson grew up in Pointe Claire, and was acquired by the Canadiens final yr. He has one son, who will flip two this summer season, and he stated as a younger father, he cherished spending time with younger kids.
Matheson began the day studying to a kindergarten class, after which enjoying video games with the five- and six-year-olds.
The kids in grades one to 6 greeted him later in an meeting within the fitness center, the place Youppi made an look. The youngsters then bought to have a query and reply interval with the Habs participant.
Eleven-year-old Marz Levenson requested the primary query, inquiring from Matheson how previous he was when he turn out to be knowledgeable NHL participant. Levenson admitted he was nervous, however was pleased he had the braveness to face up in entrance of his friends and ask a query.
“It was one of my dreams come true because I really like Mike, he’s been my idol for a long time,” Levenson stated.
Matheson spoke to kids concerning the significance of transferring and making an attempt exhausting. He spoke personally about his season with the Montreal Canadiens. He admitted his staff struggled this season, particularly with accidents, however he stated it doesn’t matter what adversity they confronted, he and his teammates by no means gave up and fought to win proper up till their last sport in opposition to the Boston Bruins final week.
He stated he hoped the children understood to maintain transferring and to remain energetic, regardless of their targets or desires in life.
“Especially nowadays with technology, it’s given us so much, but at the same time it’s leading to a stagnant population in a lot of ways,” Matheson advised journalists earlier than the meeting. “Movement is so important. It creates healthy happy children, and that is the most important thing to focus on.”
Several kids advised Global News the go to was a thrill of a lifetime.
“To me, it meant try hard, don’t give up. It doesn’t matter if you win or lose as long as you have fun,” stated 12-year-old Rylan Luker.
“I think it inspired a lot of people to now go outside and do activities,” stated Henry Burridge.
© 2023 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
