Defending The Blue Line® (DTBL) and the Minnesota Wild today announced Wild defenseman Matt Dumba donated $8,900 to DTBL as a result of “Dumba’s Hit’s for Heroes” – an initiative announced in October to raise money for the charity throughout the 2015-16 season.
Dumba originally pledged to donate $100 to DTBL for each hit he recorded at Xcel Energy Center during the 2015-16 Minnesota Wild regular season (32), but at season’s end, decided to increase his donation to include hits from both home and away games during the regular season and 2016 Stanley Cup playoffs – a career-high 89 hits.
“I’m very happy and proud to donate to Defending The Blue Line,” said Dumba. “I decided to include hits from the entire season and increase my commitment to DTBL because they provide such wonderful assistance to military families and it’s a way I can say thanks for their efforts, and for the efforts of all those in the military.”
“We’re incredibly excited to have Matt on board as one of our latest player ambassadors. He’s full of energy, and displays the same values of integrity, work ethic, and commitment that we hold in high regard,” said Shane Hudella, President & Founder of Defending The Blue Line. “His generous gift of the ‘Dumba’s Hits for Heroes’ campaign will be a tremendous help that directly increases the amount of military kids we can get started in hockey this coming season, and we are very grateful.”
Dumba, 21 (7/25/94), set career highs in games played (81), goals (10), assists (16), points (26), PIM (38), PPG (6), GWG (3), shots (152), TOI/game (16:50), hits (83), blocked shots (56) and takeaways (13) during the regular season. The native of Regina, Sask., added two assists and six hits in six games during the 2016 Stanley Cup playoffs.
Defending The Blue Line is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization created by a group of National Guard soldiers from Minnesota. The charity assists families of all branches of the military with costs associated with hockey, as well as other sports. They provide financial assistance for registration fees, free equipment, summer camps, and send many deserving families on a special night out to watch pro, collegiate, and minor league sports games before or after deployment.
[Minnesota Wild press release]