Hockey Fights Cancer Month Hits Home for Acciari

BOSTON - A contagious laugh, a smile that could lift anybody's spirits.
That's how Drew Brown will always be remembered.
Yes, he was a great hockey player, too, holding scoring records, earning All-State recognition in his home state of Michigan and finding success on the ice at Providence College. But he was an even better person, which is why his passing last November stings all that much more.

Brown died from a rare form of bone cancer called Ewing's Sarcoma that had spread to his lungs in his final months. On November 11, 2017 he had fought as hard as he possibly could. He was 25.
Almost one year later, the Bruins prepared for a usual Thursday-night game against the Philadelphia Flyers. Usual, save for a few lavender-colored differences.
Coming out of the locker room for warmups was a lavender-clad group, looking over at the left wall as they walked through the hallway to the ice. The usual murals of iconic Bruins moments were covered with dozens of white and purple signs that were written by the community that said "I fight for…"
It was Hockey Fights Cancer Night at TD Garden and no one on the team held that more closely to their hearts than Noel Acciari.
Earlier in the evening he walked into the Garden wearing a bright purple suit. Unbeknownst to the average passerby, DB7 was stitched into the collar on the inside of the suit jacket. Drew Brown was Acciari's teammate at the Kent School and Providence College, and he was his best friend.
And everyone knows you always keep your best friends close.
"I think about him all the time," said Acciari. "On my sticks, I have a No. 7 drawn on the butt end of the tape, and he's always with me. So yeah, I take him with me everywhere."

The duo played two seasons together for the Friars before Brown was first diagnosed in 2014. He went to get an MRI for a hockey-related injury to his leg when the doctors discovered the cancerous mass in his leg. That season he was Providence's fuel to the fire that ultimately led them to the 2015 National Championship title.
His cancer went into remission, and he was able to go back to school and earn a Bachelor of Science degree in 2016 before the cancer returned in early 2017. When things took a turn for the worse towards the end, Acciari and those close to Brown helped raise money for his family and their medical expenses. While Acciari raised over $57,000 in just a few weeks, it was clear that Brown had the support of the greater hockey community.
"He left his legacy," said Acciari. "When I went to the funeral and wake, just the amount of people that showed up and how many people that he's touched…He was a character guy, and he always brought a smile to your face and always laughing…I can still hear his laugh, it's definitely missed."
As Hockey Fights Cancer month revs up around the NHL, Acciari is excited for everyone to address the impact that this disease has, especially as the anniversary of Brown's death draws near.
"He's with me every game," said Acciari, "But I think all this month will be special just because everyone just acknowledges Hockey Fights Cancer, and it will be a good month."
Related: Bruins Mourn Loss of Former Providence College Standout
Acciari still needed to send a picture of himself in the purple suit to Brown's parents, whom he remains in frequent contact with, but it won't be the last time he enters TD Garden clad in purple this month.
"I'll make a couple more appearances throughout the month with this as a tribute," Acciari said with a smile and a chuckle, "But he'd be laughing at me right now with this on. He'd be like 'what are you wearing?'"
And that's Drew Brown, making his best friend Noel Acciari smile once more.