Hockey Gives Blood (Stu and Amy Middleton)

Kamloops, B.C.

Founded on the belief that every team, league and player can make a positive and lasting difference, Hockey Gives Blood (HGB) has made an incredible impact in little more than a year.

Co-founder Stu Middleton was inspired by two events to create Hockey Gives Blood (HGB).

In 2000, his father Tom died in a car accident as he travelled to watch Stu play hockey. In the wake of that tragedy, Stu received an outpouring of support from his local hockey community. When the Humboldt Broncos tragedy occurred in 2018, Stu was inspired to rally his fellow hockey players into taking action.

“I was in Disneyland when I heard about the accident and felt helpless that I couldn’t do anything,” he says. From his hotel room, Stu connected with best friend and former teammate Tanner Murray about the need to do something more. The next day, they co-founded Hockey Gives Blood and made their very first phone call to Canadian Blood Services. With additional help from former hockey players and his wife Amy, a movement was started.

To date, more than 40 hockey teams have signed up to encourage blood and stem cell donation across Canada — including those from the NHL, the ECHL league, Canadian Hockey League, minor leagues including Junior A and B players, and universities. These teams have appeared and given blood at donation events, signed up for and highlighted the need for diversity in Canadian Blood Services’ Stem Cell Registry, and brought awareness across the hockey community to help save lives.