Total $$ Raised:
$49,303
Total Volunteer Hours:
50
& Making the Game More Inclusive
At the heart of the Be A Budd initiative is the belief that every young person deserves the chance to believe in themselves and be empowered to reach their full potential.
EMPOWERING YOUTH
About Me
My name is Ryley Budd and I’m a 17 year old goalie from Calgary. I have been playing hockey for 10 years and dream to continue playing at the highest level and to make a career out of it. In my free time I like to spend it with my friends and family and the rare time we get the opportunity I love to go camping and do activities outdoors. I am so proud of how Be A Budd has grown and it motivates me to keep making efforts in the community and always try to find more ways to help others. I've been coaching Wolverines Hockey for the past 3 years and setting up Be A Budd in Calgary and it's so much fun to spend time with kids, laughing on the ice. I really appreciate everyone’s support and want to thank you for reading through my website!
Our Journey So Far
YEAR 1
2022 - 2023 Season
I came up with the Be A Budd idea when I was 13 years old, but waited until the 2022-2023 hockey season when I knew I was ready to try to do something meaningful off the ice. My hockey team had seen a presentation at the end of the last season, by Kevin Hodgson - Executive Director of HEROS Hockey - about their organization and I was really interested in their SuperHEROS program. SuperHEROS is an adaptive hockey program open to youth ages 7-17 with cognitive and physical challenges that allows them to play the sport in a safe and welcoming environment. I knew immediately this is what I wanted to get involved with.
With Kevin's support and encouragement, I partnered with a local sponsor, EnerCorp, who agreed to pledge $1 for every save and $10 for every shutout I had that season. I also skated with the kids every chance I had.
By the end of the season I had raised almost $700, but to my amazement EnerCorp surprised me by pledging $5,000 which helped send a team of 15 SuperHEROS players to their first tournament in Ontario.
YEAR 2
2023 - 2024 Season
Encouraged by the success of the first year, during the 2023-2024 hockey season I set a goal of raising $10,000 and I recruited three other sponsors that all pledged money for saves and shutouts throughout the season. EnerCorp returned and were joined by Adrenalin Source for Sports, DLR Vinyl, and the Meyer Family. By the end of the season I had raised $15,000 which helped bring 80 kids from across Canada to Calgary for the first-ever SuperHEROS Spring Friendship Series.
YEAR 3
2024 - 2025 Season
During the 2024-2025 hockey season I wanted to do more. Other players were asking about the initiative and wanted to get involved. The past two years had been such a positive experience for me around what I was able to accomplish and the relationships I was developing with the kids on the ice - if I could share that with others so they could experience it too, AND raise even more money, then why not!
So I created the Be A Budd Collective which would allow others like me to get involved if they wanted. I had hoped three or four people would sign up. We started the season with 14 Collective members including goalies, players, AND coaches who brought with them eight sponsors in total! I was overwhelmed with the support and interest. We set a goal of raising $20,000 at the start of the season, set up a donation website, and also hosted a silent auction. In the end we blew our goal out of the water! We raised a total of $30,000 which helped send SuperHEROS players to Anaheim, California for the American Special Hockey Association’s tournament.
Vision
The Be A Budd Foundation is committed to making a meaningful impact by helping youth engage in hockey and become part of an inclusive sports community. By promoting values such as inclusion, teamwork, kindness, leadership, and physical activity, our goal is to ensure that hockey becomes a sport everyone can enjoy - while also showing youth the power of community engagement and the positive impact it has on everyone’s lives.
Through our partnerships, the belief is that the greatest good comes from what we can do for one another. Together, we can create a supportive environment where every youth has the opportunity to succeed and thrive - both on and off the ice.
The Cause
Hockey Education Reaching Out Society (HEROS) is a volunteer driven charity that provides free, mentorship-based hockey programming for young people facing severe financial, social, physical, or cognitive barriers to sport. HEROS strives to remove any and all barriers to sport, providing players with the equipment, ice-time, transportation, nutrition, and coaching they need to play, completely free of charge. Since launching in 2000, HEROS has served more than 18,000 young people across Canada.
In 2018, HEROS identified a gap in hockey programming - specifically in western Canada - there was nowhere for young people living with cognitive or physical barriers to play hockey in a safe and inclusive environment. Now, 6 years after the first program launched in Calgary, SuperHEROS has expanded its community to include 8 teams throughout Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Regina, and Winnipeg. Each program is designed with the long-term investment of the players in mind and provides a variety of educational and personal development opportunities.
This past season, HEROS delivered over $75,000 of support for players through scholarships, work experiences, tournaments, counselling, and more. Learn more about the impact HEROS has in your community by visiting our social media platforms.
What We Stand For
These are the values that shape every action we take, on and off the ice
The Collective
Leadership. Connection. Belonging
The Collective features a growing network of athletes and coaches working together with sponsors and donors to rally behind our cause. Each member brings their own passion, perspective, and purpose — united by a shared commitment to empowering youth and building a more inclusive game, on and off the ice. Our Collective members are the heartbeat of the Be A Budd Initiative.
Together, we’re not just part of the game — we’re changing it
Coming Soon ...
the rest of the
2025-2026 Season Collective
Members
photo credit: Steve Hiscock
Every Budd Matters - Give Today
The Be A Budd Initiative is powered by people like you — people who believe in youth, inclusion, and community. Your donation helps us create safe spaces, build confidence, and bring more young people into the game.
Whether it's $5 or $500, every Budd matters. Thank you for being part of this.
Harrison Markin
Harrison The Tender, SuperHERO
“Ryley’s my friend. We are both goaltenders and we like to hang out. He is really cool and helps me and my teammates. Goalies are the best and I like it best when he skates with us.” - Harrison
Kris Markin
SuperHERO mom
“The compassion and generosity of the Be A Budd Initiative that Ryley undertook as a 14 year old is extraordinary. This is what hockey should be - inspiring and including everyone in the game. Ryley has changed these players (and their families) lives. Now we have SuperHEROS playing in tournaments and travelling with their teammates; hockey has grown to include them and Ryley is a huge part of that.
Colin Priestner
Saskatoon Blades GM & President
“It’s pretty rare for a high-level athlete at Ryley’s age to put such an emphasis on charity and giving back. It’s a big part of our culture to give back to the community, and to see Ryley’s effort and care for his Be A Budd Collective and SuperHEROES hockey is special. We’re very lucky to have a person like him in our organization.”
Kevin Hodgson
Executive Director
HEROS Hockey
"Ryley is a natural leader and an incredible asset to the hockey community. Not only has he raised thousands through his Be A Budd campaign, but he also gives his time—skating with our players and showing them they belong. His ability to balance school, hockey, and giving back is truly inspiring"
In The Media
Catch up on news stories, interviews, and media coverage highlighting the impact of Be A Budd in our community and beyond.
CTV News - Calgary Volunteer Fair 2025
CHL Article 2025
CHL Article 2024
Global News - Year 2
Global News - Year 1