By Alisa Howlett/News staff

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

What finals, right?

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

含羞草研究社淥ur son is heart broken that his gear is gone,含羞草研究社� Shemilt wrote. 含羞草研究社淎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.含羞草研究社� (See full post below.)

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

含羞草研究社淗e wants to be out there with his friends,含羞草研究社� Irwin told TSN. 含羞草研究社淎nd we know how expensive hockey gear is. I含羞草研究社檓 so fortunate to have good friends at CCM who were able to help out.含羞草研究社�

Melissa Shemilt, Lincoln含羞草研究社檚 mother, told the PNR over Facebook that her son is 含羞草研究社渙ver the moon含羞草研究社� after the 含羞草研究社渁mazing act of kindness含羞草研究社� demonstrated by Irwin.

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