Jack Eichel continues to be the source of smiles and hope for those in dire need of both at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center in downtown Buffalo, even when he can't be there in person.
As patients make their way down one of the facility's busier hallways to get their blood tested, they pass a large charcoal portrait of the Buffalo Sabres captain hanging on the wall. For doctors and other staff, watching people's faces light up when they catch a glimpse of his image is priceless.
"When they walk by it to get their blood drawn, they'll look over and say 'Wow, that's really cool,'" Roswell Park physician Dr. Philip McCarthy said. "I mean, these people are fighting to get control of their lives back. And to see their reaction when they see it, it gets their spirits up.
"Obviously he can't be here in person as much as he's been in the past because of the COVID-19 pandemic. But he's still having an impact on these people in so many ways, whether it's when they see his portrait or in other ways too.
"They know, like we do, that he's here in spirit with his support. Always. Even in these uncertain times."
November is the official Hockey Fights Cancer Month but for Eichel it's a 12-month-a-year effort.
Eichel has enjoyed a special relationship with Roswell Park since he first arrived in Buffalo after the Sabres selected him with the No. 2 pick in the 2015 NHL Draft, whether it be personal visits or hosting patients at home games at KeyBank Center. His portrait at the hospital, which was done by Michelle Eisenstein, staff member of Roswell Park marketing department and member of the art committee, serves as a reminder of how much he means to Roswell Park, and how much it means to him.
"It's a terrible disease and, more than anything, you wouldn't want anything like that to happen to anyone," Eichel said, his voice cracking with emotion during a recent interview. "You want to make an impact any way you can.
"The people at Roswell are unwavering in their efforts. And there is nothing better than seeing a kid ring the bell signifying that he is cancer free after watching them struggle. You want to be part of that."