Lisette Williams doesn’t give a cap what Hart Trophy voters think. Nathan MacKinnon was her MVP for 2024, dang it. The Denver Rescue Mission’s secret weapon.
“He’s No. 1 on the ice and No. 1 in our hearts,” Williams said of the Colorado speedster, whose Avs open a first-round Stanley Cup Playoffs series at scrappy Winnipeg on Sunday. “Thanks to his efforts, Kroenke Sports Entertainment blessed us with these hats. Absolutely. He’s a winner. And we love him.”
See, the headwear you fling onto the Ball Arena ice when MacKinnon notches a hat trick doesn’t die. In fact, it gets a second life.
The remnants wind up scooped, packed and delivered to the Rescue Mission, a donation arrangement that’s gone on for roughly a decade now, explained Williams, the Mission’s manager for community relations.
KSE and the Kroenkes even sweetened the pot in recent years. As a buffer for the zero-crowd or limited-attendance games during and immediately following the pandemic, the company sent the Rescue Mission 500 new Avs caps whenever a Colorado player notched a hat trick. That stipulation’s continued to the present, even with Ball Arena back to full capacity and full throat.
“People get caught up in the moment, at seeing Nathan score a hat trick,” Williams continued. “But what I think is cool is how the (Avs) fans get so caught up with how Nathan scores a hat trick and how the joy is passed on to the (community) that the Denver Rescue Mission serves.”
MacKinnon’s 140 points broke the great Peter Stastny’s 42-year-old franchise record over an Avs/Nordiques regular season (139). Nate Dogg also notched career bests in goals (51) and hat tricks (three). All told, the Colorado center racked up 89 assists on the ice. And about 2,500-4,000 assists off of it, by Williams’ count.
“It was, literally, thousands (of hats),” she estimated. “Because we get the 1,500 new ones from Kroenke Sports Charities (for three hat tricks). And, oh my gosh, you would not believe how nice the hats were that were on the ice. It’s like, ‘Oh my gosh, these are beautiful.’”
MacKinnon’s three hat tricks lifted his career total to nine. That’s the second-most in team history behind Joe Sakic’s 19, and one ahead of Peter Forsberg’s eight.
“You know, the best part about this season, I think, is that we’ve had a lot of good times,” MacKinnon told me after the Avs wrapped up the regular season by throttling Edmonton, 5-1, late this past Thursday. “The best part is just the day-to-day, trying to get better, the grind of it. I love just being in it.
“Obviously, the rewards are nice. But there’s so much that goes into it. That’s a lot of fun for me. And I think just the day-to-day with the boys, trying to get better, (has been) my favorite part, for sure.”
Williams’ favorite part? How Mighty MacK’s historic lamp-lighting also turned this into a record year for hat donations at the shelter. Hand over Hart, Lisette’s worked at the Rescue Mission for 32 years now, and thanks to Nasty Nate, who’s put up half of the Avs’ six hat tricks this season, they’re swimming in burgundy and blue.
“Nathan MacKinnon has meant so much,” she said. “Due to his incredible skill, he is a literal blessing for the Mission and to the people we’ve served. Due to his efforts, they’ve received a Colorado Avalanche hat that they’re so proud to wear …
“We’re all proud to see an Avs hat. But if you maybe don’t have the opportunity to (own) a lot of sports items, and you get an Avs hat? I mean, you’re happy. You’re joyful. You’re part of the community.”
Hats thrown on the ice of Ball Arena after Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon’s recent hat trick against the Minnesota Wild were donated to the Denver Rescue Mission. (Photo provided by Denver Rescue Mission and Michael Martin Photography)
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Even the gently used ones, mementos that once hung in your garage or lovingly from a closet door, are cleaned, disinfected and prepped for the heads that need them most.
“People are so incredibly grateful,” Williams said. “We had this one guy who said, ‘Oh, when do I give it back?’ We go, ‘You don’t. You get to keep it.’
“He was overjoyed. He didn’t understand that you get to keep it, that it was his. It was wonderful.”
With greatness on the ice, tip your cap. With legends, with No. 29, stand up and fling it. You’ll see 100 hats in your lifetime, if you’re lucky. But only one Nathan MacKinnon.
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