In an unexpected encounter that melted hearts across the hockey world, Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid found himself at the center of a moment that would change two lives forever. Known for his speed and skill on the ice, McDavid displayed compassion and humility off the ice in a story that has since gone viral.
It happened on a brisk evening in downtown Edmonton. McDavid was leaving a charity event when he passed a young woman sitting on the sidewalk with a small sign reading, “Hungry, anything helps.” Despite her situation, the girl, later identified as 19-year-old Lily, wore a warm smile as she greeted passersby.
When McDavid stopped to offer her some food, Lily surprised him by asking, “Would you go on a date with me?” The question, delivered with a mix of humor and sincerity, caught McDavid off guard. He paused, then knelt beside her and said, “How about dinner instead?”
True to his word, McDavid returned minutes later with a warm meal and sat down on the sidewalk to share it with Lily. As they talked, he learned about her struggles—how she had aged out of foster care and ended up homeless, fighting every day to survive. Lily later recounted that McDavid treated her with dignity and kindness, making her feel “like a person, not a problem.”
But the story didn’t end there. Touched by Lily’s resilience, McDavid connected her with local organizations that provide housing and job training for youth in need. Within weeks, Lily moved into a shelter program and began rebuilding her life.
When asked about the encounter, McDavid said, “It’s not about grand gestures; it’s about showing up for people when they need it most.”
Today, Lily is thriving, working part-time and attending community college. She credits McDavid for giving her the push she needed to believe in herself. Their chance meeting is a powerful reminder of the ripple effect one act of kindness can have.
Oilers’ Connor McDavid Hit With Lengthy Suspension for Illegal Cross Check
The NHL Department of Player Safety announced that Edmonton Oilers forward Connor McDavid has been suspended for three games for illegally cross-checking Vancouver Canucks forward Connor Garland.
McDavid left the ice early with a match penalty after getting tangled with Garland following a scoring chance in the final moments of the Canucks’ 3-2 win. As play continued, the two tussled to the ice, with McDavid eventually delivering a high cross-check to Garland.
The altercation ignited a brawl between both teams.
This will be the second time that the generational superstar has been suspended for disciplinary action. He was last suspended for two games in 2019 for a hit to the head on defenseman Nick Leddy.
McDavid, 28, has registered 65 points in 43 games. The three-time Hart Trophy winner accumulated 15 penalty minutes on Saturday, after entering the game with just 14 for the season.
“Connor gets frustrated, and he gets his stick up,” Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch said. “He’s frustrated because we’re down one goal and the best player in the league is getting held for 15 seconds.”
“It’s like anything,” fellow superstar Sidney Crosby told The Athletic. “Sometimes your emotions get the best of you. It’s a physical sport. The one time you see that, you probably didn’t see there nine hits that Connor took. Those ones are the ones that never make the highlights. When you retaliate, you make the highlights.
“Whether it’s him or anyone else, it’s an emotional game. That’s going to happen sometimes. If there were calmer or cooler circumstances, he probably wouldn’t have done that.”
Oilers forward Corey Perry, who’s been someone who plays with an edge his entire 20-season career, can also empathize with McDavid’s position.
“You have to protect yourself,” said Perry, “because if you don’t, you’re just going keep getting the s–t kicked out of you. They’re just going to keep coming. That is what it comes down to.”
Vancouver Canucks forward Tyler Myers was also suspended for three games because he cross-checked Edmonton defenseman Evan Bouchard. Myers was previously suspended for three games in 2012 for boarding and again in 2014 for a hit to the head.
