First Nation team honors Ryan O'Reilly, thanks him for his kindness
The St. Louis Blues are off to a strong start this season, boasting a 3-0-1 record and centre Ryan O'Reilly is a big reason for the Blues' early success. O'Reilly is off to a torrid start with 7 points through the team's first four games, but on Thursday, the Clinton, Ontario native was recognized for his efforts off the ice.
In March, O'Reilly purchased 35 tickets to the Blues'game against the Ottawa Senators at the Canadian Tire Centre and invited a team of First Nation players and their families to attend the game. This selfless act from O'Reilly took place following a report that the First Nation Elite team had played in a Quebec City hockey tournament and had been subjected to hurtful comments and chants from opposing players, coaches, fans and even one referee.
"It was upsetting." O'Reilly said. "That's not what the game is about. We say Hockey Is For Everyone, and that was just disgusting. There's no place in the game for (that)… I just want to tell (these kids) 'Keep enjoying and keep loving playing the game. Don't let anyone tell you that you can't.'"
O'Reilly made sure the evening was special for the team, as he met with them, posed for pictures, signed some autographs and introduced them to some of his Blues' teammates.
Fast forward to Thursday evening. Tommy Neeposh, the Manager of the First Nation Elite team showed up in Ottawa to attend the Blues' matchup with the Sens, but he did not show up empty handed. He came bearing gifts. Neeposh was overjoyed to present O'Reilly with a custom First Nation Elite Jersey with his number (90) and nameplate on the back, as well as a pair of moccasins for Ryan and a pair for each member of his family. Neeposh also named O'Reilly an honorary member of the First Nation Elite team.
"It was an extremely nice gesture from him," O'Reilly said Friday. "From the indigenous community, moccasins are a staple and to get ones like that is pretty amazing. And the jersey is beautiful - the detail in it, it's something I will hang up back home. It's an honor to receive. Getting something like that is special, for sure."
O'Reilly was obviously touched by the gesture. "You can tell they're great people, and (Tommy) is just a real genuine guy that does so much for his own community," O'Reilly said. "To go above and beyond to do something special for myself like that, I can't thank him enough."
Source: NHL.com
| POLL | ||
OCTOBRE 12 | 191 ANSWERS First Nation team honors Ryan O'Reilly, thanks him for his kindness Will the St. Louis Blues run it back this year and repeat as Stanley Cup Champions? | ||
| Yes | 100 | 52.4 % |
| No | 91 | 47.6 % |
| LIST OF POLLS | ||
|
YESTERDAY
JUNE 6, 2026
| ||||
| G | A | PTS | ||
| Mitch Marner | 3 | 1 | 4 | |
| Tomas Hertl | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Jordan Staal | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Shea Theodore | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Sebastian Aho | - | 2 | 2 | |
| Brayden McNabb | - | 2 | 2 | |
| Taylor Hall | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Jordan Martinook | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Andrei Svechnikov | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Jackson Blake | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Jack Eichel | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Brett Howden | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Seth Jarvis | - | 1 | 1 | |
| William Karlsson | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Eric Robinson | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Jaccob Slavin | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Logan Stankoven | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Frederik Andersen | - | - | - | |
| Rasmus Andersson | - | - | - | |
| Ivan Barbashev | - | - | - | |
| COMPLETE STATS | ||||