Saskatoon, Sask.- SaskTel Centre has become a hub for learning and acceptance in 2024-25 with the launch of the Saskatoon Blades’ PokeCheck Learns series.
The team has identified three topics close to the organization- diabetes awareness, anti-bullying and autism awareness- and are highlighting each theme throughout special games this season.
Sakastoon has presented each match through the lens of the Blades’ mascot, PokeCheck, discovering more about each topic and how it impacts people from all walks of life.
“I think it helps engage kids a little more seeing our mascot while our mascot is learning about this,” Blades Manager of Communications Tanner Chubey said. “Maybe it opens up kids’ minds a little bit to be aware of some of these topics, and maybe for some kids, as well, to be able to relate to it.”
https://twitter.com/BladesHockey/status/1860071134798184935
The series builds off of goaltender Evan Gardner’s work to raise awareness around diabetes.
Gardner, a Columbus Blue Jackets prospect and 2024 WHL Humanitarian of the Year nominee, lives with diabetes and has a sibling on the autism spectrum.
He designed a special goalie mask filled with nods to diabetes and autism before auctioning it off to support a local kid’s diabetes camp in November of 2024.
Watch as @BlueJacketsNHL draft pick Evan Gardner breaks down his custom goalie mask for Friday's Diabetes Awareness game against the Hurricanes
The game-worn mask will be auctioned off following the game with all proceeds going to Diabetes in Saskatchewan@DiabetesCanada pic.twitter.com/UYkZcgTYCv
— Saskatoon Blades (@BladesHockey) November 26, 2024
Blades forward Zach Olsen also lives with diabetes, and beyond showing people of all ages that their diagnosis hasn’t hindered their ability to compete at the highest level, it’s also been a learning experience for their teammates, like Captain Ben Saunderson.
“I didn’t know a whole lot before,” Saunderson admitted. “Just kind of seeing the stuff they have to do and learning about it, it’s interesting. After eating food, they’re pumping insulin. One guy actually has a machine that kind of does it for him… And then there’s one guy who manually does it. Just seeing that and kind of learning about all the carbs and the translation and pumping insulin, it’s kind of cool, actually.”
“We had a minor hockey team come through our dressing room for one of our dressing room tours, and (a young player with diabetes) she saw Evan Gardner’s diabetes stuff on his bag,” Chubey added. “It was a pretty cool thing to see, because her mom was like, ‘See, you know, it doesn’t hold you back’.
We’ve had a lot of people reach out saying they really resonated with Evan’s story, and then it’s just only amplified this year.”
Saunderson also chose to take a leading role in promoting Saskatoon’s anti-bullying game against the Lethbridge Hurricanes on February 26.
“To be able to use the platform we have to spread awareness is super important,” Saunderson said. “We’re all human and no one is really ahead of anyone else. Just to spread kindness and ask people how they’re doing, and just go out of your way to make the world a better place.
Obviously, hockey is a big part of our lives, but there’s also a lot of life outside of hockey, so I think bringing it away from the rink is huge.”
"At the end of the day, I could go talk to anyone on this team about anything I wanted to"
Join us and our friends at @SaskTel on Tuesday for PokeCheck Learns Anti-Bullying when we welcome the Lethbridge Hurricanes pic.twitter.com/2r7dDKjgO3
— Saskatoon Blades (@BladesHockey) February 21, 2025
Each PokeCheck Learns game night features informational programming from the Blades in the leadup to the match, in addition to in-game information and experts available to chat and provide resources on the concourse.
Saskatoon’s March 5 tilt against the Swift Current Broncos will mark the program finale for the team’s autism awareness night.
While PokeCheck has done a lot of learning in 2024-25, the team hopes the program can find new ways to grow in the seasons to come in hopes of creating a more inclusive community beyond the walls of the rink.
The Western Hockey League strives to promote and foster a welcoming environment in communities close to our 22 clubs in Western Canada and the Pacific Northwest. Every team has the creative freedom to allow their players and staff to work with the organizations and groups that they are most passionate about. The end goal is to create and maintain long-lasting relationships and ongoing partnerships within their community.
Through the McSweeney’s WHL Community Collective, we aim to highlight these outstanding initiatives done by each club throughout the season.
