Boston Bruins mascot Blades poses with Tufts Medical Center nurse Kaitlin Hagstrom as she is ... [+]
Courtesy: NHLWhen Boston Bruins forward David Pastnak won the MVP award and a new Honda CR-V Hybrid at the 2020 NHL All-Star Game in St. Louis last January, he decided to pay it forward.
From his offseason home in the Czech Republic, where he is recovering from hip surgery, Pastrnak presented his vehicle virtually to Boston ER nurse and hockey mom Kaitlin Hagstrom last week.
“It usually takes a little bit of time for all the logistics to work out after they win,” explained Brian Jennings, the NHL’s chief brand officer and senior vice president. “There’s a ‘season in motion’ as we like to say.”
When that season was paused in March, things changed.
“After a little while, David was very adamant. Is there a chance, after how this Covid situation has taken place, for us to do something with this car that would be really generous and go to a frontline worker, and a really worthy frontline worker at that?”
Not only is Hagstrom a frontline nurse in Boston, she’s also a single mother. That resonated with Pastrnak, who was raised by a single mother himself.
The Bruins also chipped in with an autographed Pastrnak jersey and some hockey equipment to round out the gift for Kaitlin and her four-year-old son, Shaun. He’s a budding hockey player, and both mother and son are fans of the team.
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“It was really a collaborative effort with our partner in Honda, our club — the Bruins — and the Tufts Medical Center and their whole staff,” said Mike Callanan, the NHL’s senior director of partnership marketing, who represented the league at the presentation. “To be able to pull together this special moment at this time — it was, really exciting.”
As well as fitting the giving spirit of the holiday season, the presentation came on a big day at Tufts Medical Center. After toiling for months against the challenges of the pandemic, frontline workers had their spirits lifted as they became some of the first people in Boston to receive the Covid-19 vaccine.
Honda has been the NHL’s official automotive partner in both the U.S. and Canada for the last 13 years, and the title sponsor for the All-Star Game for the last six seasons.
“They’ve been an incredible activator around our All-Star Weekend,” Jennings said. “And with regards to our broadcasts, they are such a supportive and important partner for us. It all starts with the dealers. The dealers are supportive and our values are really aligned and continue to be aligned. We couldn’t be more pleased.
“Thirteen years is a long time, so both sides see huge benefit to it. We’re always grateful for their activation and stewardship.”
Pastrnak’s gift is part of a developing pattern. In 2018, then-rookie Brock Boeser of the Vancouver Canucks passed on the Honda vehicle that he received as All-Star MVP to his sister and in 2019, winner Sidney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins earmarked his Honda Passport SUV for a local veteran.
“It’s just great to start seeing this trend,” said Meliza Humphrey, manager of Honda national advertising and marketing for the American Honda Motor Co., Inc., who made the on-ice presentation to Pastrnak at the All-Star Game in St. Louis last January.
NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly and Meliza Humphrey, Manager/Honda National Advertising, present a ... [+]
NHLI via Getty ImagesHonda is also covering all ancillary costs associated with Hagstrom’s gift, and she can choose any model from the Honda fleet, based on what best suits her needs.
“Any time we hear about a player looking to give a Honda vehicle to a charity or person, we’re always appreciative of the gesture and ready to fully support the player,” Humphrey said. “We’re working with the NHL team right now, beginning communication with Kaitlin. We haven’t heard back yet what she’s looking to order, which vehicle, which trim or if there are any additional options that she would like. We’re looking forward to hearing about her choice.”
“It’s such a nice story in a year that needs some nice stories,” said Jennings. “You see the emotion and you see the other nurses who are so happy for her. You see that camaraderie, similar to our locker rooms. They’ve been through so much and have truly been in a battle for the last nine months — and often don’t get the accolades that they deserve.”
The All-Star MVP award is voted by fans. Pastrnak scored six points, four goals and two assists, in two 3-on-3 games for the Atlantic Division All-Stars in St. Louis.
December 23, 2020 at 10:03PM
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Surprise! Bruins’ David Pastrnak Donates His 2020 All-Star MVP Honda Vehicle To Boston ER Nurse - Forbes
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