Willie Mitchell offers to sponsor Vancouver Island teen 'muzzled' by soccer team

An NHL star, originally from B.C., has stepped up to support a Vancouver Island teen who was "muzzled" after she spoke out against one of her soccer team's sponsors.

The captain of the Florida Panthers, Willie Mitchell, tweeted on Friday night he would sponsor 14-year-old Freyja Reed after she was told to stop protesting about the fish farming company who sponsors her soccer league.

Mitchell called Reed's case "outrageous" and said the ability to "speak up for what we believe in" is reason why it's a "privilege" to live in North America.

The hockey player, originally from Vancouver Island, is known for his interests in wildlife conservation.

Anissa Reed, Freyja's mother, said Mitchell has already taken the first step to follow through on his tweet — her daughter heard from him via a Facebook message on Saturday.

"Willie Mitchell is an awesome guy, a stand-up guy. A reflection of the B.C. coast for how he stands up for wild salmon and how he's reaching out as a professional athlete," said Reed.

While she hopes the league will take him up on his offer, she knows there are other factors at play.

"Anybody, would be honoured to have him as a sponsor," said Reid. "I would say yes, yes that's awesome, but that's not my decision to make."