Edmonton Oilers defenceman Darnell Nurse is partnering with an Edmonton after-school program to help provide marginalized kids with an opportunity to play sports.

Most kids in the program, dubbed Free Play for Kids, are refugees, newcomers, or Indigenous youth whose families are unable to afford sports or after-school care.

“Free Play closes gaps by combining sport, play and care, including equipment, registration, and transportation to and from the Free Play program, which takes place after school each day from 3:30 to 5:30,” the Oilers said in a statement.

As a Free Play ambassador, Nurse will lead the Captain of the Week program. That program sees Free PLay youth who have shown great behaviour rewarded with the chance to go to an Oilers game and meet Nurse, the Oilers said. Nurse will also help to build fundraising events and for Free Play youth graduating high school to pursue post-secondary education.

“I am extremely excited to partner with Free Play as a program ambassador,” said Nurse. “The work the Free Play program continues to do in the Edmonton community is remarkable and I am excited to share my love of hockey and help grow the sport with Edmonton’s youth.”