The NHL Goes Carbon Neutral

I'm the first one to jump on the criticism of pro athletes as rapacious, irresponsible frat boys with a loose grip on reality and overall destructive  lifstyles. So when they get it right, I should provide some props back, right.

This just in, miracles happen - the NHLPA has gone carbon neutral. In one fell swoop, Brad Ference may have done a better PR job than most of what has happened under NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman's regime. Bravo.

The Background? Brad Ference, an Edmonton native and defencemen, now for Boston Bruins rides his bike to TD Banknorth Garden on game days, used to surf in California, buys organic food and owns two hybrid cars, got a recycling bin in the Bruins change room, rubbed elbows with Al Gore and started and is now spearheading the NHLPA's Carbon Neutral Challenge campaign.  He also wanted as his wish breakfast companion come true when he brunched with David Suzuki.

The calculation? The foundation calculated the average NHL player generates 10 tons of carbon emissions each season by travelling to games. At $29 a ton, Ference is asking his colleagues to donate $290 annually to Montreal-based Planet Air. The non-profit organization is redistributing the money to three clean energy projects: hydro in Indonesia, biomass in India, and a wind farm in Madagascar.

The acceptance? Entire teams have come onboard (Dallas & Calgary notably) and as many as 700 players in a 900+ player league are expected to commit. Calgary's office now operates on wind power.

Now that's something to talk about. See Ference's reaction to the power of cause-driven word of mouth "We all have our personal choices trying to make a difference and do all you can, but at the end of the day, if you're the only guy doing it, it doesn't matter," he said. "You need to get after it. That's when the true power comes in. If you tell 10 people and it sticks with four, still, that's something."