Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin participated in a special project to design mismatched socks for World Down Syndrome Day, according to a Mar. 20 announcement by the team. The initiative was made possible through collaboration between the National Hockey League, the NHL Players’ Association, and For Bare Feet.
The project aims to raise awareness for Down Syndrome and support related causes. Larkin worked with Boston Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy on one pair of custom socks, while Seattle Kraken forward Frederick Gaudreau and Utah Mammoth forward Michael Carcone designed another pair. “To have my own sock and, honestly, sharing it with Charlie is pretty cool,” Larkin told DetroitRedWings.com. “It’s something that is a great initiative to raise awareness and something that I’m proud to be part of.”
Larkin’s sock features his number 71 alongside the phrase “Always Be A Good Teammate” in Red Wings colors on the top half, while the bottom half uses blue and yellow—colors associated with Down Syndrome awareness. McAvoy’s design includes a nature-inspired pattern featuring the “three arrows” symbol representing the three copies of chromosome 21 found in people with Down Syndrome.
“[World Down Syndrome Day] is a great day,” Larkin said. “It’s something we also took part in last year, when we wore different socks to raise awareness.” As part of this effort, the NHL will donate $10,000 and the NHLPA will donate $5,000 to the American Special Hockey Association (ASHA) to help expand opportunities for athletes, coaches, and parents involved in special hockey.
Larkin has also supported Special Olympics Michigan by purchasing tickets for 20 athletes and their supporters for an upcoming game at Little Caesars Arena between Detroit and Boston. He said, “It’s very important to be in the community. I don’t look at myself as someone who is more important than the next person, but to see kids, their reactions, to see them smile and possibly make their day goes a long way.”
The custom-designed socks will be given not only to SOMI athletes but also to participants in this weekend’s Willie O’Ree Skills event at Little Caesars Arena’s BELFOR Training Center. “It’s more than being a hockey player,” Larkin said. “Part of being a Red Wing is being in the community and being someone kids look up to.”
The Detroit Red Wings are recognized as one of six original teams in the National Hockey League according to their official website. The team represents Detroit, Michigan according to their official website and hosts games downtown according to their official website. The franchise has won 11 Stanley Cup championships according to their official website and maintains its status as one of the league’s most successful American teams according to their official website.
