Hockey Fights Cancer daily digest

Welcome to Hockey Fights Cancer, a joint initiative between the NHL and the NHL Players' Association. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the campaign, which unites the hockey community in support of cancer patients and their families.
Here is the latest Hockey Fights Cancer news from around the League.

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Nov. 29

Sportsnet raises funds, awareness with retro blue sportscoat auction

A little nostalgia produced amazing results for Hockey Fights Cancer.
Sportsnet went old school to support the NHL and NHL Players' Association's Hockey Fights Cancer initiative during "Hockey Night in Canada" on Nov. 24 when its on-air personalities wore retro baby blue jackets featuring the original "Hockey Night in Canada" logo.
The jackets, provided by Clarky and Zac Clothing, were signed and made available during an online auction following the telecast. A total of $95,766 was raised before bidding closed Wednesday with all proceeds going toward Hockey Fights Cancer, which unites the hockey community in support of cancer patients and their families.
"We are blown away by the reaction the Retro Jacket initiative has received from fans across Canada and the United States," said Rob Corte, vice president, Sportsnet and NHL Productions. "While Sportsnet has the privilege of upholding the 'Hockey Night in Canada' tradition every Saturday night, we knew that such a special piece of Canadian hockey history, the baby blue jacket, had to be celebrated in its own unique way."
Don Cherry, a Sportsnet commentator and co-host of the "Coach's Corner" intermission segment, wore a special, one-of-a-kind jacket, which received the highest bid of $17,734. "Hockey Night in Canada" host Ron MacLean's jacket was second with a top bid of $13,510.
"Partnering with Hockey Fights Cancer seemed like a very fitting way to honor hockey heritage while raising funds and awareness for such an important cause," Corte said. "We could not have achieved this without the incredible generosity of hockey fans coast to coast."

Nov. 24

Maple Leafs to hold Hockey Fights Cancer night

The Toronto Maple Leafs will host their annual Hockey Fights Cancer Awareness Night on Saturday, when they play the Philadelphia Flyers at Scotiabank Arena.
Maple Leafs players will wear lavender jerseys and use lavender stick tape during warm-up, which will be donated and auctioned off in the concourse with proceeds directed to Camp Trillium.
Camp Trillium (officially called The Trillium Childhood Cancer Support Centre) offers year-round recreational experiences to bring children with cancer and their families together. It works to provide an environment that normalizes relationships and experiences, helping them in the healing process and enhancing their quality of life.
As a special salute to the program, the Toronto Maple Leafs and Ford have invited 50 kids and parents from Camp Trillium to take part in a game day experience at Scotiabank Arena and watch the game from the Ford Fan Deck. Additionally, Camp Trillium will receive 50 per cent of proceeds from MLSE Foundation's 50/50 draw, silent auction and mystery puck sales.
The St. Louis Blues will also hold their Hockey Fights Cancer night on Saturday.
See below for details.

Nov. 23

Capitals' auction to benefit regional, national cancer-fighting organizations

The Washington Capitals and Monumental Sports & Entertainment Foundation will host an auction featuring signed hockey sticks with lavender tape used during a stick salute before the Washington Capitals host the Detroit Red Wings on Friday (4 p.m. ET; SN360, SNE, SNO, SNP, NBCSWA, FS-D, NHL.TV). The auction also will include autographed lavender player name plates, a team signed Hockey Fights Cancer jersey and additional items.
Fans interested in bidding will need to download the Handbid app on their iPhone and Android devices or online by
clicking here
.
The auction opens at noon on Tuesday and will conclude at the end of the second intermission of the Capitals game against the New Jersey Devils on Friday, Nov. 30.
Prior to the puck drop Friday, the Capitals and the Red Wings will perform a Stick Tap Salute to honor the patients and families of those battling or moving past cancer, with fans invited to turn on the flashlights on their cell phones to join the salute.
All proceeds from the auction will benefit Flashes of Hope, the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Make-A-Wish Mid-Atlantic and Pancreatic Cancer Action Network.
In addition, fans can
click here
to make a donation to the cause throughout the month.

Nov. 22

Maple Leafs' Marner has hero, big fan

Maple Leafs forward Mitchell Marner has a big fan in 6-year-old Hayden Foulon, who is fighting cancer.
Read
her story here. 

Nov. 17

Olczyk honored at Blackhawks' Hockey Fights Cancer night

Eddie Olczyk, who has overcome colon cancer, was honored at the Blackhawks' Hockey Fights Cancer night on Sunday.
Olczyk, a former Blackhawks player and current TV analyst, took "One More Shift" in full uniform.
Here is the story
on Olczyk's big night.

Islanders' Lee honors friend with Kancer Jam event

New York Islanders captain Anders Lee remembered a friend at his third annual Kancer Jam.
Here's the story.

Nov. 16

Blackhawks add 11-year-old to team

The Chicago Blackhawks made Carter Holmes, an 11-year-old who was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma on June 30, a team member for the day Friday before their game against the Los Angeles Kings at United Center.
Holmes, who lives in Viroqua, Wisconsin, joined the Blackhawks midway through their skate. Holmes' favorite player is Blackhawks forward Patrick Kane, so he wore a No. 88 jersey with his name on it.
"He stole my number, so I'm going to have to think of something new," Kane said with a laugh. "Days like today, you take a step back and realize there are some more important things out there in this world. He had a pretty good shot out there. It was fun to have Carter out there."
Tricia Holmes, Carter's mother, said the cancer was discovered after Carter was hit in the neck with a puck at a game in February.
"A bruise formed, and by June it still hadn't gone," she said. "They did a CT, the doctors] thought it was lymphoma and they took it out. The next day they said he had Hodgkin's. That's what saved his life. They would have never known he had cancer because he wasn't sick, he wasn't losing weight. So hockey is what saved him from cancer."
[Click here
for more on Holmes' big day.
Photo courtesy of Chase Agnello-Dean/Chicago Blackhawks

Nov. 15

Senators hosting Hockey Fights Cancer Night

The Ottawa Senators will hold their Hockey Fights Cancer Night on Thursday.
Julia Miller, who was 12 when she was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia, and is now 13 and in remission, will be on hand at the game.
See her story in the video below.
Tweet from @sensfoundation: Cancer is a disease that affects us all. Meet Julia, one of the strongest & most courageous people we have ever met.When you support #hockeyfightscancer you are helping @CCSOttawa improve the quality of life of those touched by this terrible disease. Join the fight! Watch: pic.twitter.com/OpvjYlI7pF

Mamaroneck, New York, set for Hockey Fights Cancer weekend

The seed was planted in 2017 during a fundraiser at a small town in suburban Westchester County, about 20 miles north of Madison Square Garden, when New York Rangers alumni including Adam Graves, Glenn Anderson and Ron Duguay helped raise money for the Mamaroneck Youth Hockey Association (MYHA).
It was the beginning of something greater and more poignant than the love and passion for hockey in Mamaroneck. The town will host Mamaroneck Hockey Fights Cancer Weekend at Hommocks Park Ice Rink on Nov. 17-18, joining the NHL, the NHL Players' Association and the American Cancer Society in the fight against cancer.
Shortly after the visit from the Rangers alumni, Jessica Berman, vice president of community development for the NHL and the mother of two sons who are in the MYHA program, suggested to their coaches a fundraiser campaign that would involve the MYHA, Mamaroneck High School varsity team and the Town of Mamaroneck Recreation Department's House Hockey program.
Energized by the buzz generated from the Rangers, the MYHA agreed instantly. A review of the 2018 schedule saw an opening for a weekend that would feature 11 travel teams playing home games, the high school team playing in a varsity scrimmage and the house league beginning the second week of its season.
The pieces of the puzzle came together quickly. November is Hockey Fights Cancer month in the NHL, when all 31 teams celebrate their own Hockey Fights Cancer night. Mamaroneck is anticipating a celebration of community working together to aid an initiative that's raised more than $20 million to support the cancer programs of local and national cancer research institutions, children's hospitals, player charities and local charities.
"Everybody involved in hockey in our town is in Hommocks] this weekend," said David Seigerman, an MYHA board member. "Let's christen it Mamaroneck Hockey Fights Cancer weekend. Let's promote the fundraiser before the weekend and through the weekend … and let's see what we can generate awareness wise and participation wise from all corners of the community. We're creating an opportunity for everybody to feel part of something bigger."
After Seigerman was presented with the concept, he thought that in lieu of individual fundraisers, why not do everything together as part of a big organizational push.
"Everybody felt, this was great," he said. "It should be bigger than us. It should be bigger than one team. It should be bigger than one organization."
Hockey Fights Cancer continues to help the American Cancer Society, Canadian Cancer Society and the Movember Foundation provide a better quality of life for patients, caregivers and their families. In advance of the weekend, MYHA managers will receive rolls of lavender stick tape for their players to promote the cause and bring an already-tight community closer together.
"There's something just a little bit different about the hockey community," Seigerman said. "You want to do something. There's something special about the hockey community in rallying for each other. When you can tap into that community spirit and that energy, and that feeling that we're all in something a little bit bigger together, it's worth trying to do a campaign like this. It's the least we can do."
Click to
[here
contribute to Mamaroneck Hockey Fights Cancer Weekend. -- Jon Lane, NHL.com staff writer

Nov. 13

Flyers sign Luke Rogers to one-day contract

The Philadelphia Flyers signed 14-year-old Luke Rogers to a one-day contract on Wednesday.
Rogers, an eighth-grader from Morgansville, New Jersey, is currently receiving treatment for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia at Rutgers Cancer Institute. Upon diagnosis, Rogers had to forgo team play, but he was recently cleared to skate again without contact.
Here's the full story. 

Wild, Flyers to hold HFC nights on Nov. 27

The Minnesota Wild and Philadlephia Flyers will each hold their Hockey Fights Cancer nights on Nov. 27. Here are some of the details.

Nov. 10

The Washington Capitals hosted their Hockey Fights Cancer skate.
For the skate, a child from Make-A-Wish Mid-Atlantic was paired with a Capitals player.
Children from Flashes of Hope, the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, and the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network also participated in the skate.
Here
is the story from
NHL.com staff writer Tom Gulitti.

Nov. 6

Lightning hosting Hockey Fights Cancer night

The Tampa Bay Lightning will host their Hockey Fights Cancer Awareness night on Tuesday when they play the Edmonton Oilers at Amalie Arena (7:30 p.m. ET; NBCSN, SNW, NHL.TV).
Former Lightning forward John Cullen, who overcame cancer nearly 20 years ago, will be part of the festivites. He was the subject of NHL.com's weekly "5 Questions with ...." feature.
Read the story here. 
Lightning goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy will get into the act with a special Hockey Fights Cancer mask.

Big night for Boyle

New Jersey Devils forward Brian Boyle, who on Oct. 24 told NHL.com his cancer is in remission, scored his first NHL hat trick on Monday in Pittsburgh. Making the night much more special is the fact that is was Pittsburgh's Hockey Fights Cancer Awareness night.
Here is a
look at Boyle's big night. 

Nov. 5

Logan Pyett was diagnosed with synovial sarcoma, a rare form of cancer that affects soft tissue, in his left leg three years ago. Today, theh 30-year-old defenseman is playing for Hhershey in the American Hockey League. It has been a long road back, but Pyett sees the value to others in the journey.
"It's great that I'm part of a team and in a league where I have some exposure and I can help raise some funds for people who need it and for cancer research," Pyett said. "The whole thing is special and it's fantastic that the league here and the NHL has nights and months like these to help out."
NHL.com staff writer Tom Gulitti has
the story
.

Nov. 3

The Los Angeles Kings will host their Hockey Fights Cancer night when they play the Columbus Blue Jackets at Staples Center on Saturday (10:30 p.m. ET: FS-W, FS-O, NHL.TV).
Get all the details here. 

Nov. 1

Lauren Boyle named Hockey Fights Cancer Ambassador

Lauren Boyle, the wife of New Jersey Devils forward Brian Boyle, will serve as Hockey Fights Cancer Ambassador for 2018-19. Boyle recently talked with Nicholle Anderson, wife of Ottawa Senators goalie Craig Anderson and last year's Hockey Fights Cancer Ambassador, about her role.
NHL.com staff writer Amalie Benjamin
has the story. 
Brian, who was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia in September 2017, and found out on Oct. 22 that he is in remission, said he is proud of his wife for serving as the ambassador.
NHL.com staff writer Mike Morreale
has the story. 

Capitals get into HFC spirit

The defending Stanley Cup champion Washington Capitals will have their Hockey Fights Cancer night on Nov. 9, but they aren't waiting until then to join the fight. The Capitals unveiled lavender nameplates in their dressing room on Thursday.

Oct. 25

Acciari honors late teammate

Boston Bruins forward Noel Acciari arrived at Hockey Fights Cancer night in a purple suit to honor former prep school and Providence College teammate Drew Brown.
NHL.com's Amalie Benjamin has the story. 

Bruins hold Hockey Fights Cancer night

Hockey Fights Cancer month officially is November, but the Boston Bruins are getting a head start, holding their Hockey Fights Cancer night on Thursday against the Philadelphia Flyers.
Here
are all the details. 

Oct. 24

Boyle says cancer is in remission

New Jersey Devils forward Brian Boyle, who was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia Sept. 19, 2017, told
NHL.com
his cancer is in remission.