Justin Bieber, Steve Carell, and more set to play in LA wildfire relief hockey game

Justin Beiber ( Image via Instagram / @justinbieber )
Justin Beiber ( Image via Instagram / @justinbieber )

For the cause of the victims of the horrific wildfires that razed Los Angeles, a celebrity charity hockey game, "Skate for LA Strong," is organized at Crypto.com Arena on February 23, 2025, at 3 p.m. PT. The event will be sponsored by the National Hockey League (NHL) and Los Angeles Kings in association with a heterogeneous gathering of celebrities, NHL icons, and regional first responders to help the relief efforts of the wildfires in an exhibition match.

This project extends the massive destruction caused by recent fires in the Los Angeles region, which have recorded massive economic losses and family displacement. The game tries to reflect the resilience of the victimized populations since it encourages sensitization and giving for ongoing relief operations.


Who's Starring? A Rollicking Lineup

A combination of sports and entertainment stars will also join the game, including singer Justin Bieber and actor Steve Carell, both of whom are huge hockey enthusiasts. They will be sharing the ice with hockey legends Rob Blake, Cammi Granato, Mark Messier, and Jeremy Roenick. The collaboration also includes Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD), Los Angeles County Fire Department (LAcoFD), and Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) first responders for their work during the wildfire catastrophe.

To pour more gasoline on the fire, a high-profile team of honorary coaches has been revealed. They include Danny DeVito, Snoop Dogg, Will Ferrell, Al Michaels, Cobie Smulders, Hannah Stocking, Vince Vaughn, and Andrew Whitworth. Their participation is among the factors that keep the flames burning in the excitement for the event, creating further interest in wildfire relief initiatives.


Entertainment and Broadcast Details

Apart from the game, the event will also have live music performances from Grammy-nominated DJ Kaskade, country singer Jordan Davis, and pop singer Lauren Spencer-Smith. These concerts are set to add to the overall experience of both in-stadium viewers and home viewers alike.

For those unable to be present, "Skate for LA Strong" will be broadcast nationally on a variety of networks, such as ESPN2, ESPN+, Disney+, Hulu, truTV, Sportsnet, FanDuel Sports Network, KCAL-TV, Pluto TV, and Samsung TV Plus. The broad coverage guarantees the message of community unity reaches the whole world.


Ticketing and Community Impact

Tickets to the event have been donated to firefighters, first responders, families that had to be evacuated, and civic leaders as a gesture of gratitude for sacrifice and work during the time of the wildfires. The project is set to be an act of relief to those affected by the calamity while developing the feeling of oneness between citizens.

The event is supported by other corporate sponsors including Blue Shield of California, Mercury Insurance, Delta Air Lines, Venbrook, Iron Bow Technologies, DICK's Sporting Goods, ABM, Yaamava' Resort & Casino, Anheuser-Busch, Coca-Cola, Alterra Mountain Company Community Foundation, SoCalGas, Big Bear Mountain Resort, Lucas Oil, Vivid Seats, First Round's On Me, Toshiba. These donations help to make sure the event is a success and wildfire relief groups get the money and materials that they need.


The Broader Perspective: Sports as a Unifying Force

Estimated total property and capital damages from the recent wildfires are between $95 billion and $164 billion. Estimated losses covered by insurance are about $75 billion, with some placing a tighter range of $35 billion to $45 billion on insured losses alone.

The game illustrates how sport may go beyond entertainment—it may be a great tool of healing and resilience for people. To play, to sponsor, to even watch the event, everybody who participates is doing it on behalf of all to enable Los Angeles to heal.

When the puck drops on February 23, 2025, there will be more than hockey eyes on it—it will be upon unity, healing, and coming together in adversity.

Edited by Sugnik Mondal
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