When Toronto Maple Leafs forward Tyler Bertuzzi returned from the NHL bye week, he looked different.
While many NHL players went for vacation in warmer countries, Bertuzzi went to Michigan, where his second child was born last week.
But when he returned to Toronto Maple Leafs’ practice, The Hockey News’ reporter David Alter took a photo of him, saying he was ”barely recognizable.”
Bertuzzi had his long, flowing hair as his signature look, but it is all gone now.
Instead, Bertuzzi sported a cleaner look with short hair.
Bertuzzi hasn’t had the best start to his Toronto career, but changing his hairstyle had nothing to do with wanting to change things up.
Instead, it happened for the most heartwarming reason.
“I donated my hair last year and the lady who does it for me is in Michigan too. So it was kind of the perfect timing again to donate to kids with cancer,” said Bertuzzi, per The Hockey News.
Alyssa Bellistri is the lady who works with ”Wigs for Kids,” a charity that donates hair to kids fighting cancer.
It’s not the first time Bertuzzi has donated his hair through the charity.
“It’s tough for the kids and the family and little things like that. Instead of just cutting it off and putting it in the garbage you may as well donate to them.”
Bertuzzi also said that his teammates were surprised seeing him without the flow.
“Some guys gave me some pretty good looks this morning,” Bertuzzi said.
