By Alisa Howlett/News staff

Nashville Predators defenseman and Vancouver Island害羞草研究所檚 very own Matt Irwin reached out to a Victoria family in need of hockey equipment 害羞草研究所� .

What finals, right?

Jason Shemilt called on the Facebook community after his son Lincoln害羞草研究所檚 hockey gear was stolen from a middle school in Greater Victoria.

害羞草研究所淥ur son is heart broken that his gear is gone,害羞草研究所� Shemilt wrote. 害羞草研究所淎t this point we cannot afford to replace any of it and puts him out from continuing the expensive hockey academy that we payed for.害羞草研究所� (See full post below.)

The June 1 post reached 77 shares 害羞草研究所� one of those shares made it all the way to Irwin.

害羞草研究所淗e wants to be out there with his friends,害羞草研究所� Irwin told TSN. 害羞草研究所淎nd we know how expensive hockey gear is. I害羞草研究所檓 so fortunate to have good friends at CCM who were able to help out.害羞草研究所�

Melissa Shemilt, Lincoln害羞草研究所檚 mother, told the PNR over Facebook that her son is 害羞草研究所渙ver the moon害羞草研究所� after the 害羞草研究所渁mazing act of kindness害羞草研究所� demonstrated by Irwin.

害羞草研究所淟incoln eats, lives and breathes hockey. So to have Matt Irwin, a defenseman 害羞草研究所� the same as Lincoln 害羞草研究所� helping him out to get back in the game he is believing anything can happen!害羞草研究所� she wrote.

Whether or not the Preds take home the Cup, Irwin can skate away with a different sense of pride knowing he helped a young boy continue his hockey dream.

Watch the TSN interview .

Reporter@peninsulanewsreview.com.