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For immediate release
CMHA PEI, Talk Today to be featured at opening night of Centennial Cup
(Summerside, May 4, 2026) – Mental health awareness will be a focal point of the opening night of the 2026 Centennial Cup, presented by Tim Hortons, when the hometown Summerside Western Capitals begin their pursuit of the national Jr. A championship.
Canadian Mental Health Association, Prince Edward Island Division (CMHA PEI) will be at the game to represent the Talk Today program, an initiative that sees CMHAs across Canada paired with local junior hockey clubs to provide athletes with suicide prevention education and ongoing connections to mental health supports as needed. The program also aims to raise community mental health awareness by using hockey as a platform.
The Western Capitals will cap off the opening day of the Centennial Cup on Thursday, May 7 when they host the Manitoba Junior Hockey League’s Niverville Nighthawks at 7:30 p.m. To highlight the Talk Today partnership between CMHA and the Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL), the game will feature:
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- A CMHA PEI-run kiosk so fans can learn more about mental health and resources available in their community
- Video board and public address announcements about Talk Today, CMHA PEI and mental health
- A pre-game ceremonial puck drop with CMHA PEI
- A player of the game award presented by CMHA PEI post-game
Additionally, CMHA PEI staff will be on site at all of the Western Capitals’ preliminary round games to chat with fans and hand out information about their services.
The CJHL is one of CMHA’s major partners on the Talk Today program. The CJHL’s nine member league champions, in addition to the host team, make up the pool of 10 clubs vying for the Centennial Cup.
“We’re excited to represent Talk Today and CMHA at this national event,” said CMHA PEI executive director Shelley Muzika. “It’s another opportunity for us to continue conversations around mental health to eliminate stigma and discrimination around these issues.”
“The Summerside Western Capitals are proud partners of CMHA PEI and value the opportunity to participate in the Talk Today program each season,” said Western Capitals president Pat McIver. “Through Talk Today, our players are more informed on mental health and suicide, and there’s help available to them if they need it. This resource is a real benefit for our organization.”
“Talk Today is a key part of the CJHL’s commitment to player safety and well-being,” said CJHL president Andy Harkness. “This program starts conversations around mental health in our dressing rooms around the country and ensures our athletes have connections to community-based mental health supports. We’re a stronger league with CMHA involved.”
Since Talk Today was introduced in the CJHL in 2019, 358 mental health awareness and suicide prevention trainings have been completed, involving 8,110 participants. In 2025-26 alone, 1,890 players and team staff were trained across 80 sessions.
Talk Today in the CJHL is made possible with generous co-funding from the Fifth Line Foundation and NHL Foundation Canada.
For more information about Talk Today, visit www.talktoday.ca.
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For more information, contact:
Justin Dickie
Consultant, Talk Today in the CJHL
902-305-9599
jdickie.ic@ontario.cmha.ca