Hockey Fights Cancer stories abound in Blue Jackets family

Nearly everyone has a story of how cancer has impacted their life, and Hockey Fights Cancer Night presented by OhioHealth each year is a chance to tell them. It's a unique and memorable night at the rink each year; here are three stories from Nationwide Arena that stood out from Tuesday night's celebration.
As if a global pandemic weren't tough enough for the Nirote family, they found out firsthand what it's like to stare cancer down -- multiple times.
Three generations of family members were all diagnosed with cancer in about a year's time back in 2020, making an unprecedented time even more difficult to navigate. Making matters worse for everyone, perhaps the hardest hit was the youngest member of the family, now 5-year-old Will Nirote.

The youngster was diagnosed with stage 4 kidney cancer and had to go through treatments at both Nationwide Children's Hospital and the James at The Ohio State University. It's not easy for anyone to watch their child go through such a difficult battle, which is what helped make Tuesday night's CBJ Hockey Fights Cancer game at Nationwide Arena so special.
Now a healthy, energetic kid, Will was in attendance along with his grandfather and namesake, Will, who battled prostate cancer a few years ago, and his father Jon, who faced testicular cancer. The Nirote family had a big section of fans there to not just enjoy one of their favorite pastimes, Blue Jackets hockey, but celebrate another day of all three being cancer free.
Jon is also sure to give the Blue Jackets an assist in the younger Will's fight against the disease. While the Galena native was going through his toughest treatments, Will received video messages from some of his favorite CBJ players, including Gustav Nyquist, to give him the energy he needed to get through everything.
"We were incredible Blue Jackets fans beforehand," Jon said Tuesday night. "And the Blue Jackets were kind enough that Gus Nyquist actually recorded a video to cheer him up because he was going through a pretty difficult stage of chemo at that time. He was at the point where he was hitting a wall, and that video just helped propel him through the end of it."
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The younger Will has had plenty of interactions with the Blue Jackets since then as well. He was lucky enough to be able to do a locker room tour for season ticket holders and sit in Nyquist's locker, and when the team hosted its Meet The Team event before the season, Will ignored the rule against pictures with players in the way only a 5-year-old could -- by running behind the table and greeting Nyquist, who remembered him from his video message.
Maybe one day, Will might follow in Nyquist's footsteps as well. He's gotten back to being a normal kid, going through the Blue Jackets' Learn To Play programs in hopes of being just like his on-ice heroes.
"Last Saturday, it was the first time they did somewhat organized scrimmage play, and he got his first goal ever," Jon said. "It was a really big moment for him."
Last year's Hockey Fights Cancer game was the first CBJ contest that Will was able to attend post-treatment, and this one provided a special moment as well as the youngster was given a personalized jersey signed by Rick Nash. The CBJ family has been there for the Nirotes through their cancer fights, and it's easy to see how Hockey Fights Cancer Night will remain circled on the calendar for years to come.
"It's only further solidified our love for the Jackets, not just for the hard work that they do on the ice but in the community and giving back," Jon said. "It's really, really big."

Gudbranson Can Relate

Every year the Blue Jackets head to a local hospital to brighten spirits around the league's Hockey Fights Cancer celebration. This year, it was a trip last week to the Ronald McDonald House of Central Ohio.
For Erik Gudbranson, it was his first time making such a visit with the Blue Jackets after signing a four-year contract this offseason.
But it's not the first time he's been present for such an occurrence, and not just because he's a 12-year NHL veteran. In fact, Gudbranson has been on both sides of the coin.

When Gudbranson was 11 years old, his younger brother, Dennis, was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia at age 6. Dennis faced six months of chemotherapy and went into remission, only to have the cancer come back. Eventually, he went through a bone marrow transplant, and luckily, he has been in remission for the past 15 years.
It was a trying time for the Gudbranson family, which was based in Ottawa, but there was plenty of support from the hockey world. Montreal captain Saku Koivu, himself a cancer survivor, actually called Dennis before the bone marrow transplant, and members of the Ottawa Senators visited the hospital where the Gudbransons spent far too much of their time.
"It's funny, I go into those rooms now and I remember specifically when Mike Fisher and Todd White came through our room and the feeling that my brother had afterwards," Gudbranson said. "That hour afterwards was just a smile on his face because of how cool that was. Me being in those shoes now, it's such a blessing. It's one of the most exciting things we get to do all year.
"A lot of those days, being in the hospital for months on end, they can become monotonous, they can become scary, and they can weigh on you. Just that little change of pace, it can provide a week, a month of happiness, honestly. It's incredibly important."
Gudbranson said Dennis is now doing fine, and in fact, Erik was the best man at his brother's wedding this summer. The CBJ defenseman acknowledges there were plenty of tough days for the family, but the good news is the Gudbransons now have lifelong connections to the doctors and nurses that cared for Dennis and helped save his life.
It also provides a fair amount of perspective that has lasted a lifetime.
"It's an awful disease, and I'm so happy the NHL puts this at the forefront, that we get to talk about this and try to find a cure to it because it's an awful disease," Gudbranson said. "It tears people apart from the inside out. The one thing that I will say, though -- I haven't met anybody who's had cancer that it's taken their soul away.
"Everybody always comes back stronger. Even through the tough times, mentally, spiritually, they become incredibly strong, thoughtful people that are incredibly amazing."

18 Years Cancer Free

Julya Faulkner is no stranger to Hockey Fights Cancer games.
In fact, about two decades ago, she was one of the guests of honor. When she was 8 years old, the Cardington native was diagnosed with Ewing's sarcoma, which is usually a bone cancer but for Faulkner impacted her brain.
Now 27 and a CBJ season ticket holder who attended last night's game, Faulkner has been cancer free for 18 years, but it was far from an easy journey. Which is why it helped to have the Blue Jackets and the organization's early Hockey Fights Cancer efforts on her side.

"It's a tough battle for anybody, but I'll say the Blue Jackets Foundation and what it was at the time, it was a really cool thing to have players come to the hospital," Faulkner said. "I do remember that. I remember playing (the card game) War with Tyler Wright. He was how it all started. I did one of the original Hats for Heroes dinners where we went to Max & Erma's at the airport.
"I remember all that stuff even though I was only 8 and I was very sick at the time. It's a cool thing to see the Blue Jackets players. It's super exciting for kids to see."
Faulkner as much as anyone can vouch for what it's like for kids going through the toughest moments of their lives to have support from the community. In all, she spent more than 100 days at Nationwide Children's Hospital going through treatments, but having the opportunity to attend a game and be recognized by the Blue Jackets is a memory that remains through all of those trials and tribulations.
"To be able to go to the game, especially when I was going through treatment, it was like a whole different world to be able to get out of the hospital and come here," Faulkner said. "The year I was sick, I rode the Zamboni at one of the games. We came from the hospital and changed our chemo schedule to be here.
Walking through the Nationwide Arena in a lavender Hockey Fights Cancer sweater, Faulker said the annual celebration game is one she circles every year as it brings together two things that are important in her life.
"It's cool to see how it has evolved over the years, too, and become different over the years," she said.

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