Former Rangers defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk speaks out on mental health ahead of Shoulder Check Showcase
Former New York Rangers defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk will be among the many NHL players taking the ice on July 24 at Terry Conners Ice Rink in Stamford, Connecticut, for the third annual Shoulder Check Showcase.
The event, which supports youth mental health, brings together current and former Rangers, along with other players to promote the message of “Reaching Out. Checking In. Making Contact.”
“The hat I’m wearing right now [is] for one of my good buddies, Jimmy Hayes. You know, this is something that hits home for me,” Shattenkirk told NHL Network. “Seeing the message that’s behind it, and knowing you can make a difference with such a small act, it goes a long way.”
The showcase was founded in memory of Hayden Thorsen, a 16-year-old goalie from Connecticut who committed suicide in 2022. Since then, Hayden’s parents, Rob Thorsen and Sarah Thompson, have made it their goal to turn grief into action through the Shoulder Check movement, a campaign that encourages kids to show up for one another with kindness, on and off the ice.
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Before the puck drops, players gather at center ice with one hand on the shoulder of the person next to them, taking the Shoulder Check pledge: “I promise to Reach Out, Check In, Make Contact.”
The event continues to grow. From its beginnings just two summers ago, it’s become a marquee summer showcase featuring returning talent like Shattenkirk, Chris Kreider and Jonathan Quick.
The event begins with fan events at 4 p.m., including food trucks, raffles, and a chance to learn more abut the Shoulder Check initiative. A skills showcase will follow at 6 p.m., with puck drop set for 6:30 p.m.
Shattenkirk’s mission behind the Shoulder Check movement
Shattenkirk said he’s returning to the Shoulder Check Showcase to help continue to grow the message behind the movement. As a defenseman who spent more than a decade in the NHL before announcing his retirement last December, he has seen firsthand how powerful the hockey community can be when it comes together for something bigger than the game itself.
In Stamford, that “something bigger” is mental health awareness. During the past three years, he’s remained one of the event’s biggest supporters, growing it both on the ice and behind the scenes.
For Shattenkirk and many of the players who return each year, the message behind the Shoulder Check movement is personal.
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“It can happen to any one of us,” he said, reflecting on how mental health challenges hit every corner of the sport. “We’ve seen that, especially over the last few years that the event’s been going on.”
Shattenkirk praised the work of Thorsen and Thompson, who turned an unimaginably sorrowful situation into a successful movement that now echoes across the hockey world. What started as a local tribute has turned into a national call to action.
Along with Shattenkirk, eight other former and current Rangers will take part in the Shoulder Check Showcase. Adam Fox, Matt Rempe, and Brett Berard will represent the current squad, while Kreider, Kevin Hayes, Frank Vatrano, Martin St. Louis, and Quick are all set to partake.
Quick will be joined by St. Louis, a Hockey Hall of Famer, behind Team Quick’s bench.
With more players, creators, and fans joining each year, the Shoulder Check Showcase continues to expand its audience.
CLICK HERE for more information about the Shoulder Check Showcase and movement.
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