By Alisa Howlett/News staff
Nashville Predators defenseman and Vancouver Island鈥檚 very own Matt Irwin reached out to a Victoria family in need of hockey equipment 鈥 .
What finals, right?
Jason Shemilt called on the Facebook community after his son Lincoln鈥檚 hockey gear was stolen from a middle school in Greater Victoria.
鈥淥ur son is heart broken that his gear is gone,鈥 Shemilt wrote. 鈥淎t this point we cannot afford to replace any of it and puts him out from continuing the expensive hockey academy that we payed for.鈥 (See full post below.)
The June 1 post reached 77 shares 鈥 one of those shares made it all the way to Irwin.
鈥淗e wants to be out there with his friends,鈥 Irwin told TSN. 鈥淎nd we know how expensive hockey gear is. I鈥檓 so fortunate to have good friends at CCM who were able to help out.鈥
Melissa Shemilt, Lincoln鈥檚 mother, told the PNR over Facebook that her son is 鈥渙ver the moon鈥 after the 鈥渁mazing act of kindness鈥 demonstrated by Irwin.
鈥淟incoln eats, lives and breathes hockey. So to have Matt Irwin, a defenseman 鈥 the same as Lincoln 鈥 helping him out to get back in the game he is believing anything can happen!鈥 she wrote.
Whether or not the Preds take home the Cup, Irwin can skate away with a different sense of pride knowing he helped a young boy continue his hockey dream.
Watch the TSN interview .