NJ Devils Honor 11-Year-Old Englewood Leukemia Survivor

ENGLEWOOD, NJ — The New Jersey Devils honored a young city cancer survivor Friday as part of the National Hockey League's annual Hockey Fights Cancer initiative.

Lifelong Devils fan, Bennett Burgida, 11, served as an honorary assistant coach and dropped the ceremonial first puck at the beginning of the game against the New York Islanders. The Devils lost 4-3 in overtime.

Burgida also had lunch with Devils' alumni Chico Resch and Ken Daneyko before the game.

The Devils posted pictures of Burgida and a message of encouragement to him on the team's Twitter page Friday: "Bennett, you’re doing an awesome job as our honorary assistant coach of the day!"

Devils forward Brian Boyle fought a successful 13-month battle against leukemia. He announced Oct. 24 that his leukemia was in remission.

Email: daniel.hubbard@patch.com

Photo: In honor of Hockey Fights Cancer night, survivor Bennett Burgida shakes hands after the ceremonial puck drop to Brian Boyle, No. 11, of the New Jersey Devils and Anders Lee, No. 27, of the New York Islanders pose before the game at Prudential Center Friday. (By Elsa/Getty Images)