LOS ANGELES — On a sunlit Sunday afternoon, Justin Bieber and Steve Carell took to the ice alongside Hockey Hall of Famers Rob Blake, Mark Messier, Cammi Granato, and Jeremy Roenick to lend their support for relief efforts following the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles. The event, titled “Skate for LA Strong,” was organized by the Los Angeles Kings in conjunction with the National Hockey League, held at the Crypto.com Arena, highlighting the urgency for recovery after the Palisades Fire, noted as the most destructive in the city’s history.
Bieber expressed the hopeful sentiment of the day, stating, “We’re looking to have a good time and show when we come together, good things happen.” The event was designed as a four-team exhibition tournament masterminded by Kings President and Hall of Famer Luc Robitaille. Teams were comprised of a diverse mix of 15 skaters and a goalie, featuring celebrities alongside former players and local first responders.
Robitaille emphasized the event’s purpose, 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.” The atmosphere was lively, filled with camaraderie and the spirit of community solidarity during tough times.
The exhibition concluded with a victory for the team coached by actors Vince Vaughn and Cobie Smulders, who won both games they played. Jeremy Roenick made his mark by scoring two goals and even playfully dropping the gloves with Bieber during the matches. Roenick reflected, saying, “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.”
Other celebrity coaches for the event included Will Ferrell and Snoop Dogg, Danny DeVito and Al Michaels, and Hannah Stocking with Andrew Whitworth. Actor Skylar Astin shared his enthusiasm, recalling his gratitude toward the firefighters for their efforts, saying, “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. I even took PCH over here for the first time, and it was the first time I actually saw all the destruction firsthand and it was really chilling.” He remained optimistic about the resilience of the community, stating, “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.”
As for the event’s accessibility, tickets were not sold but given directly to first responders and individuals displaced by the fires, making it a heartfelt and inclusive affair. The Kings reported an impressive turnout of 12,167 fans who attended the game, which was broadcast locally in Los Angeles as well as on ESPN2 nationwide.
