‘Really does mean everything’: Support pours in for Saskatoon goalie after equipment was stolen

After a student’s goalie gear was stolen, offers of help flooded in from across the province and country. Carla Shynkarak has the details

What started as a devastating loss has turned into an outpouring of generosity for 18-year-old Hudson Edwards and his family.

Within hours of CTV News airing his story, the Saskatoon teen and his family were flooded with calls and messages from strangers offering help. The offers ranged from financial donations to replacement of hockey gear — expensive equipment the family had spent years saving up to buy.

Hudson Edwards, a young goalie, said sharing his story wasn’t easy.

“People could put themselves in my shoes and be like, ‘Wow. I couldn’t imagine just waking up one day and then boom — I can’t go play hockey,’” he told CTV News.

That’s because finding goalie equipment to use is not easy, adding that the stolen items total about $5,000.

“I was really embarrassed about the fact that I left it in the back of my truck, but I also feel like there’s a lot of people out there who could relate,” he explained.

His mom, Tina Edwards, said the story struck a chord because of how deeply hockey is woven into life in Saskatchewan — and across Canada.

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“We had somebody contact us from Toronto,” she said. “They had seen the story, and he has some old goalie equipment that he said he would love to get out to us.”

One of the most meaningful offers came from the Quinn Stevenson Memorial Fund. The fund was created in honour of Quinn Stevenson, a young hockey player who was killed by an impaired driver.

The story resonated deeply with Quinn’s mom, Bonny Stevenson, because both Quinn and Hudson were referees.

“The story caught my attention instantly. We always kind of look for little things like that that might fit appropriately with how we can help,” she said.

Another emotional offer came from a father in Swift Current who lost his son. After seeing Hudson’s story, he reached out to donate his late son’s goalie equipment so Hudson could keep playing the game he loves.

“He said he would even — he’s a pilot — and he would even fly it out to us,” Tina said. “That’s really when I realized this is not about hockey equipment anymore.”

For Tina Edwards and her family, the overwhelming support has felt like a Christmas miracle.

“Sometimes we think there’s no good in this world and we only hear the bad stuff. Although this was a bad thing to have happen, so much good has come out of it,” she said.

While the family is hopeful the stolen equipment may still find its way home, they are now focused on processing the kindness they’ve received and deciding how to move forward.

Hudson said he has one message for everyone who reached out.

“I just want to say thank you. It really does mean everything,” he said.