LOS ANGELES — Justin Bieber and Steve Carell participated in a skating event alongside Hockey Hall of Famers Rob Blake, Mark Messier, Cammi Granato, and Jeremy Roenick on Sunday afternoon, all aimed at raising funds for wildfire relief in Los Angeles. This event, named “Skate for LA Strong,” took place at the Crypto.com Arena and focused on supporting recovery initiatives following the severe wildfires that have ravaged parts of Southern California, notably the Palisades Fire, which has been marked as the most devastating in the city’s history.
Bieber expressed his optimistic outlook on the event, stating, “We’re looking to have a good time and show when we come together, good things happen.” The exhibition featured a four-team tournament that was initiated by Luc Robitaille, a Hockey Hall of Famer who now serves as the president of the Los Angeles Kings.
Robitaille emphasized the personal connection many involved had with the wildfire’s impact, saying, “We’ve all been touched by what happened last month. We all have friends, families or different (people) that have been impacted, so for us to be able to make a difference and to do something, we’re gonna raise as much as possible and make a difference.” In the event, the team led by actors Vince Vaughn and Cobie Smulders emerged victorious after winning both of their matches in the tournament.
During the day’s activities, Roenick not only scored two goals but also engaged in a lighthearted moment with Bieber when they playfully fought during a game. Roenick reflected on the day’s significance, stating, “This was an amazing celebration of hockey and first responders. It was a lot of fun, seeing everyone that showed up and some of the LA firefighters playing was a good feeling.” The other teams in the tournament were coached by celebrity figures including Will Ferrell and Snoop Dogg; Danny DeVito and Al Michaels; and Hannah Stocking and Andrew Whitworth.
Actor Skylar Astin shared his excitement for participating, stating, “When the Kings asked me to do this, I was like, ‘Absolutely.’ I don’t care if I’d never thrown on a pair of skates before, this is where I want to be.” Astin, who lives in Malibu, acknowledged the efforts of firefighters in controlling the fires, saying, “It’s going to be a while for us to really build back properly, but LA is a resilient community, and I think we’ll get it done.”
The event gained wider visibility, being broadcast locally in Los Angeles and nationally on ESPN2. Instead of selling tickets for the exhibition, organizers opted to distribute them to first responders and those affected by the wildfires, ensuring that those directly impacted had the opportunity to attend the event.
