Others involved in the project are the NHL Players' Association (NHLPA) and Bauer Hockey.

It will aim to help families who have been financially impacted by COVID-19 and get their children back playing on the ice.

"Children across the country are eager to hit the ice, but given our current environment, families will face many challenges to provide resources for their kids to continue to participate in the game they love," said Rob Knesaurek, the NHL's group vice-president of youth hockey.

"We are extremely proud that the Hockey Equipment Relief Programme will not only help offset some of these costs but will also continue to prioritise making our game more inclusive and diverse for everyone."

The NHL, NHLPA, Bauer Hockey and Hockey Canada have combined their resources for the programme which will include equipment donations.

This includes CAD$2 million (£1.15 million/$1.5 million/€1.27 million) of ice hockey gear, with upwards of 7,000 sets to be distributed to families and communities most in need.

These will be dispersed in the seven Canadian NHL cities of Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal – as well as other regions across Canada.

"As Hockey Canada and its 13 members continue to work towards a safe return to hockey, it is important for us to recognise the difficulty faced by many Canadian families during these uncertain times," said Scott Smith, President and chief of operations of Hockey Canada.

"We are proud to partner with the NHL, NHLPA and Bauer Hockey on the Hockey Equipment Relief Programme, and to assist with equipment distribution through our members and local hockey associations from coast to coast to coast.

"We know this great initiative will allow a number of children and their families across the country to make an affordable return to hockey as soon as it is deemed safe."

The equipment donation programme will be administered through the seven Canadian NHL clubs, Hockey Canada and provincial governing bodies to determine distribution plans.