LOS ANGELES — On Sunday afternoon, Justin Bieber and Steve Carell joined Hockey Hall of Famers Rob Blake, Mark Messier, Cammi Granato, and Jeremy Roenick for a special skating event aimed at raising funds for those affected by the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles. The event, titled “Skate for LA Strong,” took place at Crypto.com Arena and was organized by the Los Angeles Kings and the National Hockey League to support recovery efforts in the wake of the Palisades Fire, which has been marked as the most destructive fire in the city’s history.
Bieber expressed his enthusiasm for 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, conceptualized by Luc Robitaille, a Hockey Hall of Famer and the Kings’ President.
Robitaille touched upon the personal impact of the wildfires, noting, “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 team led by Vince Vaughn and Cobie Smulders emerged victorious, winning both of its games to clinch the tournament title. Meanwhile, Roenick showcased his skills on the ice, scoring two goals and engaging in a playful fight with Bieber during the match.
“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 great feeling,” Roenick remarked, highlighting the community spirit of the event. Other teams were coached by notable figures such as Will Ferrell and Snoop Dogg, Danny DeVito and Al Michaels, and Hannah Stocking paired with Andrew Whitworth.
Actor Skylar Astin reflected on his involvement, 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’m a resident of Malibu, so I really have the firefighters to thank for even containing it as much as they were able to. I even took PCH (Pacific Coast Highway) over here for the first time, and it was the first time I actually saw all the destruction firsthand, and it was really chilling. 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 game was broadcast locally and also aired nationally on ESPN2, providing insights into the event’s significance. Instead of selling tickets, they were generously provided to first responders and those who had lost their homes due to the fires, emphasizing the solidarity within the community during such challenging times.
