Canadiens blueliner hoping to empower Montreal students
Posted April 17, 2023 3:15 pm.
Last Updated April 18, 2023 10:34 am.
Montreal Canadiens defenceman Mike Matheson visited St. Gabriel Elementary School in Pointe-Saint-Charles Monday.
The Pointe-Claire native is an ambassador for the Champions for Life Foundation, which empowers children four to eight years old to move and build the skills, confidence and motivation to be active.
“Especially nowadays with technology and everything, and it’s obviously given us so much, but at the same time, it’s leading a little bit to a stagnant population,” said Matheson. “And so movement is so important and creates healthy, happy people. And I think that’s the most important thing to focus on.”
David Arsenault with the Champions for Life Foundation says parents must take the responsibility to play with the children outside.
“To offer opportunities for them to learn, develop and explore the world in so many different ways,” said Arsenault. “And for young children, it’s very important that they learn to figure these things out on their own, to be given the tools so that they can then go and express themselves in this world, interpret what’s happening around them.”
Matheson says spring is the perfect time to get moving.
“Get outside, the weather’s getting nicer,” said the Habs player. “And so that’s an exciting time of year when spring kind of breaks and we can maybe do this sort of thing outside.”
“Movement is so important, especially when they’re growing up and learning how to use their body and growing. And it just creates so much happiness and health in the human body to move.”
The Champions for Life program has been running at St. Gabriel Elementary School since 2016, with support from the Montreal Canadiens Children’s Foundation.
Wearing number 8, Matheson was acquired in a trade with the Pittsburgh Penguins this season. He has 8 goals and 26 assists this season. Matheson was drafted 23 overall in the first round of the NHL draft by the Florida Panthers in the 2012 entry draft.
