Fischer gives back to the Hat in return with Chiefs
He may no longer be a member of the Medicine Hat Tigers, but Zach Fischer isn’t done giving back to the Gas City.
The 20-year-old Lloydminster product made his return to the Canalta Centre with the Spokane Chiefs Wednesday after parting ways with the Tigers earlier this month. Before he got down to business, Fischer showed his appreciation to those who supported him through the years by making a $5,000 donation to KidSport Medicine Hat and Redcliff on behalf of his personal foundation, Z for Kids.
“Medicine Hat has a special spot in my heart,” said Fischer. “The community has done a lot for me. They’ve really rallied in support, the fan base I’ve built up here. I’ve really embraced it and had fun with it. I just want to give back to the community and help these kids out with whatever I can do.”
Local KidSport chair Connelly Sherwick says the money will help 25 local kids get involved in sports who would otherwise be unable to play do to financial restrictions.
“It’s amazing to get a donation like this from someone who’s only 20 years old,” said Sherwick. “Donating his own money and getting matching donations to donate to the foundation and then returning it back to the people and kids of Medicine Hat — a place where he played for four years —it makes a big impact on the community.”
Fischer made a name for himself on the ice in Medicine Hat as a goal-scoring enforcer, but the 6-foot-2, 205-pound winger regularly made a point of interacting with his younger fans both at games and in the community.
“It makes me happy that I can have those supporting fans,” said Fischer. “It’s pretty special that I can bond with them. It’s one of those things where the fan base, especially in Medicine Hat, they don’t go away. They kind of follow me wherever I go and I’m blessed to have them.”
Fischer has four points since joining up with the Chiefs on Oct. 20, including a goal in Wednesday’s 7-4 loss to the Tigers.
Sherwick added anyone interested in applying for assistance from KidSport can do so at kidsport.ca/medicine-hat-andredcliff.
“If anyone in the community knows someone who could use help, who’s maybe having a tough time financially and could use some help from KidSport to get their kids online, please go to the website,” he said.