Smith establishes Shane Scores for Maia Campaign

By Lethbridge Herald on February 5, 2025.

Lethbridge Herald FILE photo by JUSTIN SEWARD Lethbridge Hurricanes Shane Smith gets dumped by Parker Alcos of the Edmonton Oil Kings during WHL action at VisitLethbridge.com Arena earlier this season. Smith has established the Shane Scores for Maia Campaign through the Canadian CMV Foundation

By Justin Seward

Lethbridge Herald

Lethbridge Hurricanes forward Shane Smith has teamed up with an organization to bring awareness to an at birth condition that has impacted a family member.

It was announced that from every point Smith collects this year, that $25 will be donated to the Canadian CMV Foundation through the Shane Scores for Maia Campaign in honour of his niece, Maia, who was diagnosed with cCMV (congenital Cytomegalovirus) at birth.

CcMV is diagnosed during pregnancy in up to 1 in 200 newborns and 1 in 5 will have a lifelong disability.

“I think at the beginning (of the) year when I got here, I kind of wanted to donate somehow to a special community to me,” said Smith.

“Maia, right now, is thankfully asymptomatic but obviously can change at any point.”

Smith is one of few Canes to get on board with initiatives next to Brayden Yager’s initiative for the Alzheimer’s Society, Brayden Edwards donation of $10 per point to the Special Olympics and Miguel Marques and Tristen Doyle’s $10 donations for Goal for Kids in support of the Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation.

“I think a lot of people just  see us as hockey players but we’re people too with our families and special communities that we have ties to,” said Smith.

“It is an incredible honour to be chosen by the Lethbridge Hurricanes, and we are especially grateful to Shane Smith for his support,” said Rob Tétrault, president and co-founder of the Canadian CMV Foundation.

“Congenital CMV (cCMV) is the leading infectious cause of birth defects in Canada, yet it remains largely unknown to the public, with only a small percentage of women having heard of it. This lack of awareness can have serious consequences for families, as cCMV can lead to lifelong health challenges for affected children. With the generous support of the Lethbridge Hurricanes, we can further our mission to raise awareness and provide vital resources to those impacted by congenital CMV.”

The campaign has raised $450 and started retroactively when Smith began with Canes back in October.

The Canes will match the total donation at the end of the year.