A grassroots Toronto organization is working to restore hockey passion after free Leafs tickets went unclaimed

Fans react to the Toronto Maple Leafs loss to the Florida Panthers in NHL Stanley Cup playoff hockey action at a tailgate event outside Scotiabank Arena, in Toronto on Sunday, May 18, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Arlyn McAdorey

A group of Toronto hockey die-hards is looking to get kids back into the quintessential Canadian sport after two of its members couldn’t even give away free tickets to a Maple Leafs game.

“That was very surprising to me. Because it’s very hard to get tickets to the Leafs, and I’m a big fan, you know,” Toronto Catholic District School Board Trustee Markus de Domenico, who works with the group’s group’s co-founders Mario and Anthony Bellissimo, told Newstalk 1010’s Moore in Morning on Wednesday.

The data shows that the lukewarm reception to the ticket giveaway was more than just a one off. According to Hockey Canada, youth participation in the sport dropped 22 per cent between 2009 and 2022.

That, paired with a Leafs team that isn’t in the playoffs for the first time in a decade, has made hockey fandom in Toronto a hard sell.

“Well, I think, hockey and Canada go hand in hand…But, you know, going to a game can be pricey for some families, of course,” de Domenico said.

Stronger Together is looking to change that, by visiting schools and using hockey as a blueprint to teach kids about leadership, teamwork and resilience, while also highlighting key concepts of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).

“There’s a lot of elements to it that are encouraging discovery and innovation in the school,” de Domenico said, adding that he was tapped to volunteer with the group and recently performed a rendition of Stompin’ Tom Connors’ “Good Ol’ Hockey Game” to an excited gym full of kids.

“We did one the other day, and it was an absolute blast. There were Maple Leaf jerseys in that entire gymnasium. There were 600 kids in there. So, I think, you know, I think we’re working on a really good program.”

The program has partnered with Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment and has expanded to over 160 schools.