Hockey Fights Cancer is an important event in the hockey world. It brings together the sport many people love and a disease that nobody wants. Hockey Fights Cancer is a charitable event started by the National Hockey League (NHL) after Tampa Bay Lightning forward, John Cullen, was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma.

In conjunction with the NHL and the American Cancer Society, a Hockey Fights Cancer night was held before FHN took on Duchesne. There were jars placed around the rink for people to donate money to support the cause.

“[I liked it] because it allowed us to show support in and outside of the hockey community,” junior Lilly Delaney said.

Before the game, there were many tributes. A Hockey Fights Cancer representative talked about the organization and their mission to bring hockey together to create cancer awareness. Then a moment of silence was held for the people who had lost their battle with cancer.

“It is a good way to show we care about our teammates and family that we want to help them,” sophomore Dominic Henning said.

Both teams wrapped their sticks with purple tape. They were also given HFC stickers to put on their helmets. The teams and parents had the opportunity to create a sign that said who they fight for.

“Even though you have two different teams, they can come together on a night together and do something like that [raise money together],” sophomore Matthew Wells said. “It shows class and respect that they can do it.”

According to the National Cancer Institute, 38% of men and women will be diagnosed with cancer sometime throughout their lifetime.  In 2017, nearly 15,270 children and adolescents were diagnosed with cancer. Of those children, 1,790 lost their fight.

In 2019, a member of the Knights hockey team had something big to celebrate. Senior Charlie Jones, who was diagnosed with Ewing’s sarcoma, was honored at the game. Ewing’s sarcoma is a very rare tumor that grows in the bones or the soft tissue around the bones. Jones is a goalie who recently rang the bell at Children’s Hospital to show that he is done actively receiving treatment. Jones is in remission and has begun to train and play with the hockey team again.

“[Practice] is fun and all but I can’t wait to play in games again,” Jones said.

There were an estimated 15.5 million cancer survivors in 2016. There is expected to be 20.3 million by 2026. Cancer of any kind affects many families so a gesture like this can make a big difference to many people.

Although the Knights lost, the team was happy they were able to be a part of an event like this.

“[Hockey Fights Cancer] was special because it kind of let people know what I went through if they didn’t know what happened,” Jones said. “It also let people know that cancer can happen to anyone.”