Story Summary
The NHL has renewed and expanded its partnership with the Matthew Perry Foundation for the coming pre-season. Under the “Goals for Recovery” campaign, the League will donate $100 for every pre-season goal scored to the foundation to support addiction recovery, prevention and advocacy across North America – double the $50-per-goal contribution made during last pre-season’s initiative. The donation campaign coincides with National Recovery Month and the League’s eight-day, 65-game pre-season slate scheduled from Sept. 19 through Sept. 26 across 36 NHL and neutral-site venues.
Key Facts
- The NHL and the Matthew Perry Foundation are partnering for “Goals for Recovery” for the second consecutive pre-season.
- The League will donate $100 for every pre-season goal scored to the Matthew Perry Foundation, doubling last pre-season’s $50-per-goal donation.
- The initiative recognises National Recovery Month.
- The League’s pre-season slate runs eight days and includes 65 games played across 36 NHL and neutral-site venues from Sept. 19 through Sept. 26.
- Rob Wooley, executive director of the NHL Foundation, said the campaign opens conversations about addiction, creates understanding around recovery and helps ensure more people have access to support.
- The Matthew Perry Foundation was created after the actor’s accidental death on Oct. 28, 2023.
- Shauna Nep, special projects advisor to the foundation, said the NHL’s partnership went beyond money and has been “life changing” for the foundation and the communities it supports.
- Half of last pre-season’s donation supported the inaugural Matthew Perry Foundation Fellowship in Addiction Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital.
- Greg Fleisher, the foundation’s communications director, said the fellowship trains doctors to address addiction with specific training and understanding and that grassroots money goes directly to small organisations on the front lines.
- The Matthew Perry Foundation aims to eliminate the stigma surrounding addiction by providing financial assistance to organisations that offer hope in recovery.
- Matthew Perry was born in Williamstown, Massachusetts, moved to Ottawa around his first birthday, became a lifelong hockey fan and played in celebrity hockey events including the 1994 NHL Celebrity All-Star Game.
IHM Discussion
The NHL’s decision to increase its per-goal donation to $100 broadens the social impact of pre-season hockey beyond the rink. By tying charitable giving to goals scored during pre-season, the League has created a simple, measurable way for hockey to contribute to a public-health conversation during National Recovery Month.
The doubled figure increases the potential financial support available to the Matthew Perry Foundation’s recovery, prevention and advocacy work while raising the profile of addiction recovery on a league-wide scale. Rob Wooley framed the programme as an effort to use hockey’s reach to open conversations and build understanding around recovery. Last pre-season’s contribution was split between the Matthew Perry Foundation Fellowship in Addiction Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital and grassroots recovery programmes, illustrating the range of work the partnership has previously supported.
The partnership also reflects Matthew Perry’s enduring connection with hockey. The foundation’s work is anchored in Perry’s history as a fan and participant: his childhood years in Ottawa, celebrity game appearances and support for the Ottawa Senators and Los Angeles Kings. That personal link gives the campaign a human dimension that may help reduce stigma among communities, families and fans affected by addiction.
Why It Matters
The campaign turns pre-season goals into support for addiction recovery, prevention and advocacy. Last pre-season’s contribution supported both addiction-medicine training at Massachusetts General Hospital and grassroots recovery programmes, showing how the partnership has reached medical and community settings. The renewed initiative also gives the League a visible platform to encourage conversation and understanding around recovery.
Mini Q&A
What is the NHL donating under ‘Goals for Recovery’?
The NHL will donate $100 for every pre-season goal scored to the Matthew Perry Foundation.
How does this compare to last pre-season?
The League doubled its per-goal contribution from $50 last pre-season to $100 this pre-season.
When will the donation be counted?
Donations apply to goals scored during the League’s pre-season slate, which runs eight days and includes 65 games from Sept. 19 through Sept. 26 across 36 NHL and neutral-site venues.
Why is the foundation linked to Matthew Perry?
The Matthew Perry Foundation was created after the actor’s accidental death on Oct. 28, 2023, and aims to eliminate the stigma around addiction by providing financial assistance to organisations that support recovery.
Coach Mark Comment
The on-ice link is simple: every pre-season goal contributes to a cause beyond the scoreboard. That gives clubs and players a clear opportunity to support a conversation about recovery while engaging fans during the pre-season.
IHM Final View
The League’s doubled pre-season per-goal pledge builds on last season’s launch and Matthew Perry’s hockey legacy. The previous campaign supported an addiction-medicine fellowship and community-based recovery programmes; this renewal increases the potential support for the foundation’s wider recovery, prevention and advocacy work. Linking goals to giving also gives the campaign a clear, visible connection to National Recovery Month.