Mikael Backlund of the Flames gives back to help children keep their pets

Flames' Backlund gives back to help kids keep pets Calgary Flame Mikael Backlund gives back to the community by partnering with a charity to help kids keep their pets. Glenn Campbell reports.

CALGARY — When he's on top of his game, Mikael Backlund of one of the best two-way centres in the National Hockey League.  But there's more to Backlund than just hockey.

A family man who is a big believer in giving back to the community through charity, Backlund said as an athlete it's part of his responsibility.

"I just feel like I live a really privileged life and I have a big platform that I can (use to) help people," he said.

ANIMAL LOVER

The latest charity Backlund and his wife Frida have partnered with is Parachutes for Pets.  The Backlunds lost their dog Lily to cancer in January and wanted to keep her name alive because she meant so much to their daughter Tilly.  They were constant companions.

That's where "Lily's Legacy" was created.  It helps children keep their four-legged best friends through hard times.

Backlund loves animals and was only too happy to get behind this particular charity.

"Just like any family member, you love them so much and you don't want to let them go," he said, "so if we can help some kids keep their pets that makes us feel a lot better and makes us feel happy that we can help some."

TOUGH TIMES

During their Christmas pet hamper campaign, Parachutes for Pets discovered kids were struggling to keep their pets, whether due to family finances or problems within the home.

The Wright family knows all about going through tough times. Their oldest son Jordan is battling cancer.  On top of that their cat Nala fell out of a box and landed awkwardly.  She ended up breaking her hip.  Mother Shannon didn't think they were going to be able to afford the surgery.  "Devastating yes because it's just one of those things like my husband's been laid off twice now since COVID," Wright said.

"Money is tight, it's so tight and we just couldn't do it."

THINGS ARE LOOKING UP

Thankfully they were able to get Nala in for surgery because Parachutes for Pets helped pay for some of it. And there's more good news.  Nala is doing much better since surgery and Jordan got word today his cancer is in remission.

Jordan loves to play War Hammer and he says despite what he was going through he would've done anything to help save his cat.

"I'm really grateful.  I was willing to go as far as to sell off 90 per cent of my hobby (War Hammer) in order to pay for her surgery just because she does mean that much."

For Backlund, those are the stories that make it all worthwhile.  He said helping others is what it's all about.

"Yeah it obviously makes you feel very happy," he told CTV.

"It makes me feel really good to hear those kind of stories where people get to keep their pets."