SvoNotes is a weekly column by BlueJackets.com team reporter Jeff Svoboda.
Every year for Hockey Fights Cancer, I walk through Nationwide Arena and talk to Blue Jackets fans about what the night means to them.
The saying goes that everyone has been impacted by cancer, and it never feels more true than in this moment.
Last night’s Hockey Fights Cancer game presented by OhioHealth against Arizona featured the usual trappings – a raffle of lavender jerseys, lavender board advertisements, battle cards, poignant moments, and the introduction of the team’s pediatric cancer heroes (who truly put everything in perspective).
But while the Blue Jackets do everything they can to make it a special night, what truly makes it unique is what it means to the fans. Each year, as I talk to fans in Nationwide Arena, I hear the same thing over and over – “I wouldn’t miss this game for the world.”
We all have a cancer story, and as a result, this game is more than just a game. And as I chatted with members of the 5th Line last night, here are three stories that illustrate what Hockey Fights Cancer means to the Blue Jackets fan base.
Scott Robinson (pictured above)
The call that changed Robinson’s life came in 2019. Five days after having unrelated surgery done, his phone buzzed with a doctor on the other line.
In the aftermath of the surgery, doctors discovered he had prostate cancer – and that it had spread.
“You expect them to call and say, ‘Hey, everything came back OK,’” Robinson said. “He said, ‘I have bad news for you. You have cancer, and oh, by the way, it’s a tough, aggressive cancer.’ It puts things in perspective.”
On the Gleason score from 1 to 10 on which levels of prostate cancer are measured, he checked in at a nine.
“One through seven is normally the prostate cancer that’s in your prostate; it usually goes nowhere,” Robinson said. “Those are the people that live a normal life and they usually die of getting hit by a bus or something like that as opposed to prostate cancer. But mine was metastatic and got into my lymph nodes.”
For the last four years, Robinson has been in treatment, including 31 different radiation sessions. He was told in 2020 that he had just 12 to 18 months to live, but as he says, “I’m still here.”
“I have no complaints,” he said. “Here I am. I never expected to be here in 2023, that’s for sure.”
And while he’s here, the Worthington Hills resident will remain a steadfast Blue Jackets fan. Originally a native of Connecticut who saw the first- and last-ever Hartford Whalers games, Robinson has become a diehard Blue Jackets fan. He first looked into getting tickets before there was an arena, just a model that fans could look at to see the eventual shape of the building, and he made sure he purchased a PSL for a seat near food, beverages and restrooms.
It’s become a family affair, as well, as he attended last night’s game with his daughter, Brittany, who wore a lavender and black Hockey Fights Cancer jersey.
“It’s all in the family now,” he said. “It goes from generation to generation. (Brittany) has been there since day one. My wife has been fantastic. The people close to me have been great. It’s a journey I haven’t been on by myself, which I really appreciate.
“I have no complaints. I’m still here. I do have a bucket list item, though, and that’s for the Jackets to get to the darn playoffs and win a playoff game.”
John and Jennifer Scharver
The Scharvers remain Blue Jackets season ticket holders and don’t ever expect to give it up.
After all, the organization has given them so much.
Their son, Ethan, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in 2006, right after he returned 3 years old. For more than three years, he was in treatment in Nationwide Children’s Hospital, and one day the Scharvers were presented with an opportunity to make Ethan one of the early CBJ pediatric cancer heroes.
Not only did Ethan get to participate in such events as the Flashes of Hope photo shoot and the Black Tie, Blue Jackets fundraiser, the Scharver family became close with players like Jason Chimera, who took the time to make sure the Blue Jackets cancer heroes felt like true heroes.
“It was nice because it gave us something to look forward to, to get our minds off things,” John said of the experience of working with the Blue Jackets Foundation. “We got to know some of the players. The one who was absolutely phenomenal – and still is – is Jason Chimera. He was unbelievable to our family, and what he did helped us through some of the most difficult times that we had.”
It was a long battle for the New Albany residents, but it’s had a happy ending. Ethan was able to win his fight and is currently a junior attending the University of Tennessee, and thanks to the support from the Blue Jackets throughout his cancer fight, the family remains season ticket holders and big fans.
“He’s doing really well, and he loves hockey,” Jennifer said of Ethan.
On Hockey Fights Cancer Night, John pulled the white No. 25 jersey of Chimera out of the closet and wore it to Nationwide Arena. It’s a reminder of everything the family has been through in the past, and those that helped them through it.
“As we were driving here, you’re looking back and talking about, ‘Do you remember this? Do you remember that?’” John said. “It brings back a lot of emotions, and it’s hard to believe it was that long ago. Something like this, all of a sudden, it comes back quickly and you realize it really wasn’t that long ago. It was a huge part of our lives.”
Allen Bowles
Already a handful of times this season before Thursday night, Bowles had tickets to a Blue Jackets game but ended up giving them away.
He just couldn’t get himself to go because it would be his first time at Nationwide Arena since the passing of his father, Tim, of cancer in August.
Finally, though, Allen and his brother, Shawn, decided to attend last night’s game. The fact that it was Hockey Fights Cancer felt a little weird but also felt right, and the two signed the giant HFC battle card that was hanging in Nationwide Arena for fans to share messages about loved ones battling the disease.
“It’s emotional, but at the same time, it’s good to be back because Dad would want us to be back,” Allen said.
The irony is the Columbus natives weren’t originally a hockey family. The Bowles grew up more into racing and football, but Allen slowly but surely got into listening to games back in 2017. After getting free tickets to a game, he was hooked, and two years ago Allen decided to become a season ticket holder.
“The reason we’re a ticket holder is when we came to a game, I asked (my dad), ‘Do you think we should do it?’” Allen said. “He said, ‘You only live once.’ The rest is history.”
Tim Bowles was diagnosed with cancer in 2019, and hockey remained a way for the family to stay close. Allen said he and his father didn’t miss a game, particularly celebrating a season ago when Tim’s favorite player, Eric Robinson, notched a hat trick at Buffalo.
“Literally, the last conversation he and I had was about Zach Werenski’s new house,” Allen said. “We talked hockey all day, every day.”
As time goes on, it will likely become easier to step through the doors of Nationwide Arena. Last night was a first chance to return to a place that holds so many memories, and both Allen and Shawn said as tough as it can be at times, they will continue to support the team in honor of their father.
“He would definitely want us to be here,” Allen said. “I think I have six or seven more games on the plan this year. If I’m not here, (Shawn) will be here for the rest of them.
“It’s not the same with him, though. I can tell you that.”
