\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
![\"MIKAELA](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/4134235_web1_241220-Jets-sticks-0255.jpg\")
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n
MIKAELA MACKENZIE \/ FREE PRESS FILES<\/p>\n
Gabe Vilardi is a frequent contributor to the Project 11 program and regularly volunteers to speak with students about mental health. <\/p>\n
It has been his best yet, with career highs in goals (29), assists (36), points (65) and games played (79).<\/p>\n
Vilardi is proud of all of that, of course. But last week\u2019s team nomination for the King Clancy Memorial Trophy, awarded to the player who best \u201cexemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice and who has made a significant humanitarian contribution to his community,\u201d is a particularly meaningful honour.<\/p>\n
Upon learning of it, he couldn\u2019t help but think of family.<\/p>\n
\u201cJust growing up, we were always told that there\u2019s always someone that has less than you, there\u2019s always someone that has more than you. So you have to know where you stand and help those (with less),\u201d said Vilardi.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s important to give back and help. The Jets make it really easy. I don\u2019t see any reason to not do it. It\u2019s been a lot of fun for me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Vilardi is a frequent contributor to the organization\u2019s Project 11 program, named after the late Rick Rypien. He regularly volunteers to go into schools to speak with students about mental health and, in the process, is trying to erase some of the stigma surrounding the issue.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a great tribute for him. He\u2019s gone through a lot personally, through his life and his career. He\u2019s handled it extremely well,\u201d said Jets coach Scott Arniel.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen you talk about mental health, that\u2019s something that hits home here in Winnipeg and it hits home with the Jets and the Moose, with our history here, with Rick Rypien. (Vilardi) getting out in the community and sharing and living what he\u2019s gone through has got to be great for the kids that are listening or the adults who are listening when he speaks.\u201d<\/p>\n
Indeed, Vilardi has been candid about some of his own struggles, which included a raft of injuries which threatened to derail his NHL career before it really got going. And you won\u2019t ever catch him speaking in cliches, the way so many athletes do. He\u2019s always direct and to the point, in a way that truly connects.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople go through (things) and they\u2019re embarrassed by it, they don\u2019t want to talk about it. Maybe they\u2019re not good at talking publicly or even just talking in a group,\u201d said Arniel.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s the biggest thing, first to get help for himself and now to take it public and to spread what he\u2019s gone through with other people, that\u2019s just a sign of a man that\u2019s really matured. Not that it\u2019s behind him and not that it\u2019s gone, but it\u2019s still something that it\u2019s a big step forward for him.<\/p>\n
In our last couple of years that he\u2019s been here, we\u2019ve noticed it\u2019s helped him sort of calm himself, to be able to play the games and go through the stress of the hockey season. To do all of that and to add in the community (element), that\u2019s special.\u201d<\/p>\n
Vilardi credited Suzi Friesen, the director of educational programs with the True North Young Foundation, for quite literally telling him where to go.<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t RUTH BONNEVILLE \/ FREE PRESS FILES<\/p>\n Vilardi grew up in Ontario with Italian immigrant parents.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll reach out to her throughout the season and be like \u2018Hey, I just came back from this road trip, tomorrow\u2019s a day off, where do you want me?\u2019 She\u2019s someone that has helped me a lot and made it easy for me,\u201d said Vilardi.<\/p>\n He, along with his girlfriend, Megan Rodgers, also works with the Winnipeg Jets Hockey Academy, which involves mentoring and even helping to coach teams of young skaters, particularly those who may not otherwise have the means to play the sport.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s very easy-going and fun to go on the ice and see the kids smile,\u201d said Vilardi.<\/p>\n \u201cA lot of time I\u2019ll be leaving different events and people are thanking me and saying how big a deal it is and I\u2019m like \u2018There\u2019s no need to thank me at all because honestly it\u2019s fun work.\u201d Especially when it\u2019s with kids and you know you made a difference in their day. Myself, I\u2019m not a kid obviously but I feel like a kid in a lot of ways.\u201d<\/p>\n Indeed he is \u2014 with an admitted love of all things Lego at the top of his list. Rodgers, who is from southern California and met Vilardi when he was starting his career with the Los Angeles Kings, has also added working at Toba Centre to her resum\u00e9 this year. The organization works with children and families impacted by abuse.<\/p>\n \n\t\tWinnipeg Free Press | Newsletter\n\t<\/p>\n \t\t\tThe Warm-Up<\/p>\n Winnipeg Jets Game Days<\/p>\n On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop.<\/p>\n \t\t\tSign up for The Warm-Up<\/a><\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t Just as he is always trying to find new ways to improve his on-ice performance, Vilardi is trying to expand his reach in the community as well.<\/p>\n \u201cIn LA it was much different. Here, community is so important. And it\u2019s important to give back where you can do these types of things, because everyone here supports us,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cNot just as athletes, but whoever you are. Spend time doing something that matters to you to help others.\u201d<\/p>\n The King Clancy winner is chosen by a committee consisting of NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, former winners of the award and former winners of the NHL Foundation Player Award and will be announced in June. The recipient receives a $25,000 donation for charity and a $20,000 grant from the NHL for a special activation.<\/p>\n www.winnipegfreepress.com\/mikemcintyre<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t Mike McIntyre Mike McIntyre is a sports reporter whose primary role is covering the Winnipeg Jets. After graduating from the Creative Communications program at Red River College in 1995, he spent two years gaining experience at the Winnipeg Sun before joining the Free Press in 1997, where he served on the crime and justice beat until 2016. Read more about Mike<\/a>.<\/p>\n Every piece of reporting Mike produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print \u2014 part of the Free Press\u2018s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press\u2019s history and mandate<\/a>, and learn how our newsroom operates<\/a>.<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Reporter
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n