Hockey Fights Cancer daily digest

Welcome to the Hockey Fights Cancer Daily Digest. Though Hockey Fights Cancer is now a year-round campaign, most teams will be having their Hockey Fights Cancer nights during the month of November. NHL.com will provide all the highlights from each night as well as stories about the campaign.

Nov. 21

Washington Capitals

The Washington Capitals added an up-and-coming player to the mix for Hockey Fights Cancer Night.

Kalen Anderson, a 15-year-old forward and goalie who signed a ceremonial one-day contract with the Capitals did the honors dropping the puck at Capital One Arena on Thursday.

She was even joined by her favorite player and the namesake of her dog, T.J. Oshie , for the puck drop.

Anderson is now in remission and back on the ice.

It was also an emotional night as longtime Capitals radio broadcaster John Walton was recognized by the team. Earlier in the day, he joined NHL Network to talk about the support he received from the League-wide initiative.

Walton is now spreading the word as loudly as possible about early detection.

There were plenty of other young honorees on the ice for the big night, as the Capitals trotted out a special starting lineup.

The team also shared the story of David Cornbrooks, a former Division 1 athlete and father of two who started "Sweat For Breath" after being diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer two years ago.

Cornbrooks started Sweat For Breath as a way to extend and improve the lives of people with ALK+ lung cancer. The Capitals showed a touching video of Cornbrooks' treatment and recovery.

Columbus Blue Jackets

Move over Boone Jenner , Max Billet is here.

The 9-year-old pediatric cancer patient was welcomed by the team as honorary captain on Thursday, the team's Hockey Fights Cancer night.

Billet headed up a group of young fans, ranging in ages 6 to 14, all clad in purple jerseys, for the special event.

Before the game, the Blue Jackets honored all those fighting cancer by filling out their "I Fight For" signs, which were also shared at the game by fans.

Calgary Flames

The Calgary Flames announced a special lineup for Hockey Fights Cancer Night.

The teenagers were announced and brought out to the ice to a nice round of applause from fans at Scotiabank Saddledome.

Pro golfer Steve Blake showed up to support the team's Hockey Fights Cancer Night. Blake was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2023.

He shared his story during the first intermission of the game.

Nov. 20

Dallas Stars

Before the Stars' Hockey Fights Cancer game, the team hung out with a young cancer patient named Wiley during their morning skate.

The team greeted Wiley wearing the special shirts he designed and presented him with a custom Stars jersey.

The Stars also filled out their own "I fight for" cards ahead of the game.

Nov. 19

Pittsburgh Penguins

The Penguins celebrated their Hockey Fights Cancer Night on Tuesday at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh.

Prior to their game against the Tampa Bay Lightning, the Penguins acknowledged six cancer patients and survivors from UPMC Hillman Cancer Center on the ice.

For walk-ins, the team wore special purple dress shirts and ties to commemorate the special night.

During warmups, players decorated their sticks with special purple tape and acknowledged fans with Hockey Fights Cancer signs.

The team is holding an auction to benefit UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh.

Ottawa Senators

The Ottawa Senators celebrated Hockey Fights Cancer Night at the Canadian Tire Centere on Tuesday.

An 8-year-old fan named Nash, who is battling cancer, performed the ceremonial puck drop alongside his family.

Nov. 17

Vancouver Canucks

Dakota Joshua got to meet a pair of new teammates.

Not on the Vancouver Canucks, though, the forward met twin brothers Weston and Bennett Openshaw, who were diagnosed with leukemia at age two and are now in remission.

Joshua made his return to the ice last week after he was diagnosed with testicular cancer this summer.

The group met up at the Canucks skate ahead of their Hockey Fights Cancer Night.

Dubbed the "Twincredibles," Weston and Bennett along with their older brother dropped the puck at Rogers Arena.

The Canucks also were decked out in their special Hockey Fights Cancer gear ahead of the game.

Nov. 11

Washington Capitals

The Capitals hosted their annual Hockey Fights Cancer skate at MedStar Capital Iceplex when each Capitals player was paired with a child from Make-A-Wish Mid-Atlantic, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and Horizon Day Camp.

The players spent the morning skating with their young fans.

Nov. 9

Detroit Red Wings

The Detroit Red Wings had a special guest in the locker room before their Hockey Fights Cancer Night.

A young fan named Hudson, who finished his last round of chemotherapy treatment in September, read the Red Wings starting lineup in the locker room before the team hit the ice.

Red Wings head coach Derek Lalonde gave Hudson a pep talk before he led him into the dressing room. Hudson sported a purple Red Wings jersey as he announced the starting lineup.

After, Hudson was led to the Little Caesars Arena center ice where he rung the bell for completing his cancer treatments.

Nashville Predators

A special guest was on hand for Hockey Fights Cancer Night at Bridgestone Arena.

Harper, a pediatric cancer patient, was the team's Hockey Fights Cancer ambassador for the night, performing the pregame puck drop and electrifying the crowd.

And afterward she had a little chat with forward Ryan O'Reilly, who of course signed her jersey.

Colorado Avalanche

The Avalanche welcomed their very own Hockey Fights Cancer ceremonial starting lineup with the help of UC Health.

The honorees were all cancer survivors, some very recently, and were introduced like members of the team

Shannon Daly, an amateur goalie in the Women's Association of Colorado Hockey, was diagnose with breast cancer in 2018 and is now five years cancer free.

Mike Melby, a youth hockey coach, battled cartilage cancer and had successful surgery in 2023. Max Elliot was diagnosed with blood cancer and given five months to live but after successful treatments he is now in remission.

Terry Brooks is a three-time cancer survivor who battled metastatic melanoma and is now in remission.

Devota Casais is a mother and grandma who fought colorectal cancer and is now cancer free.

The final intro was for Rodney Mayo, a Gulf War veteran and walking paraplegic who was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer 10 months ago. It was his first game back at Ball Arena as he was not able to attend during treatments, but after his successful surgery he is cancer free.

Nov. 7

San Jose Sharks

The Sharks hosted Hockey Fights Cancer Night with full-on purple at arrival time. Even SJ Sharkie was dressed up for the night.

To do the pregame honors of dropping the ceremonial puck and joining the players on the ice for the special night were six young patients from Kaiser Permanente Medical Centers of San Jose and Santa Clara.

The kids got to stand on the blue line with the players before the game and were bestowed the honors of the puck drop in addition to intermission Zamboni rides and much more.

A pediatric cancer patient named Ezra performed the cermonial puck drop. He recently completed nine rounds of chemotheropy and rung the bell before dropping the puck.

He also visited the Sharks in the locker room and read the starting lineup.

Nov. 5

Anaheim Ducks

The Anaheim Ducks held their Hockey Fights Cancer Night at the Honda Center.

The Ducks sported purple jerseys as they arrived at the arena before their game against the Vancouver Canucks.

During warmups, the special "I fight for" cards were displayed on the glass.

A cancer surivor named Steve Mellem performed the cermonial puck drop.

Nov. 1

Buffalo Sabres

Hockey Fights Cancer Night at KeyBank Arena in 2024 was over a decade in the making.

The team welcomed back Jack Langdon, a Sabres fan who originally dropped the puck for the team back in 2011 after being diagnosed with Ewings sarcoma at the age of 12. He was in a walking boot due to surgery on his right heel.

Now, 13 years later and officially a cancer survivor after treatment at Roswell Park for a second battle, Langdon had the opportunity to do the honors again in 2024. The team shared a moving video of Langdon's long journey.

Langdon joined a host of Roswell Park patients on the team's purple carpet, rolled out every year for Hockey Fights Cancer Night.

The Sabres also presented Roswell Park with a check for $75,000 to help continue their work with patients just like Jack Langdon.

Oct. 29

Boston Bruins

The Bruins celebrated their Hockey Fights Cancer Night before their matchup with the Philadelphia Flyers at TD Garden in Boston. The players wore special purple jerseys for the occasion and some had purple tape on their hockey sticks.

In a video posted by the team on social media, players shared who they fight for in the battle against cancer.