Toews donates $1M to Winnipeg community center

Jonathan Toews is giving back to the place that helped him become one of the NHL's brightest stars.

The Chicago Blackhawks captain donated $1 million to the Dakota Community Centre in his hometown of Winnipeg, the facility announced in a release Wednesday.

(Courtesy: Dakota Community Centre)

Toews' gift is the largest-ever private donation to a community center in Manitoba. It will be put toward the "Dakota Futures Capital" campaign, an initiative that will support the construction of a new 60,000-square foot field house and future development on the center's campus.

He'll also serve as the campaign's honorary chair.

The center's primary facility was named the Jonathan Toews Sportsplex in 2010 after the Blackhawks center won his first Stanley Cup championship.

"From my earliest days playing hockey, Dakota Community Centre has always played a pivotal role in my upbringing and my career", Toews said.

"Today, I continue to be honored to have my name associated with the sportsplex on the Dakota campus. My parents have instilled in me the importance of giving back, and I believe that in supporting Dakota, we will see endless possibilities for the community center's future and transformation in the lives of our community members."