A moment of joy through the Blue Jackets’ Flashes of Hope

At just 5 years old, Ashton Chapman was diagnosed with brain cancer.

What was originally thought to be a common cold quickly turned serious when Ashton’s mom, Stephanie Chapman, noticed unusual behavior. Stephanie, a nurse, rushed him to the hospital after realizing he was having a seizure.

“It was not like the ones they show on TV where they’re on the ground shaking and everything,” Stephanie Chapman said. “It’s called a focal seizure. He was just not able to respond to us and was looking off into the distance.”

Doctors discovered a large tumor in Ashton’s brain. After surgery to remove it, he underwent nine months of chemotherapy and radiation before entering remission.

As Columbus natives and hockey fans, the Chapman family was honored when Ashton was selected to be one of the Blue Jackets Foundation’s Pediatric Cancer Heroes for the 2026-27 NHL season. Part of being a hero with the team includes participating in various events throughout the season. The first is Flashes of Hope, an initiative that brings pediatric cancer patients and their families together with Blue Jackets players for a special day together.

Stephanie said Ashton and his older brother Aedan were extremely excited when she told them about the opportunity.

“They were so excited,” Stephanie said. “I told them they would get to meet players, and we would get to hang out and talk to them and play. They would just say, ‘Shut the front door’ and ‘That’s amazing.’”

On Oct. 14, Ashton and four other Heroes and their families spent the day at Nationwide Arena meeting players, taking photographs, playing games and making various arts and crafts.

Tara Battiato, executive director of the Columbus Blue Jackets Foundation and senior director of community impact, said the initiative gives the Blue Jackets a chance to show its support for the Heroes.

“The goal is to show them that the Blue Jackets are behind them and support them throughout their cancer journey,” Battiato said. “It’s a year-round program. We get to support them throughout the year, and they really do become a part of the Blue Jackets’ family.”

For Stephanie, the experience was about more than meeting the team. Events like Flashes of Hope have also given her opportunities to connect with other parents who understand what her family has experienced.

“It’s just been so nice to just look at another parent or another family and be like, I get it. We’ve just been so grateful for anything that comes along because it’s a terrible position to be in.”

For the Blue Jackets Foundation, Battiato said it’s incredibly important to make the Heroes feel like normal children.

“Pediatric cancer is a challenge and incredibly under-resourced, so for us, it’s about being able to use our therapy through distraction programs and make them feel like a kid again,” Battiato said.

Before his diagnosis, Ashton was extremely energetic, Stephanie said. Since undergoing treatment, however, the physical toll of his illness has changed his energy levels.

On Wednesday, Stephanie said she saw a side of her son she had not seen in a while.

“I have not seen him this happy in months,” Stephanie said.

“Usually, he has energy for an hour and then is bored, but I think he’s feeling the positivity. This is literally the Ashton from years ago with all the excitement.”

At the end of the day, Battiato said spending time with the Heroes reminds her what the Blue Jackets Foundation is really about.

“These kids are fighting battles every single day; it really does put life in perspective for us, for me personally,” Battiato said. “I know for the guys, it really is what this game is all about and to make our community better and leverage our platform and our time and resources.”

Ashton, and his fellow Heroes, will participate in a special pregame introduction during the Blue Jackets game on Thursday, Nov. 5 when the team hosts the Dallas Stars.