Brian Boyle Nets Goal in Devils Win on Hockey Fights Cancer Night

NEWARK, NJ – Participating in the league-wide cancer awareness initiative, the New Jersey Devils brought in 8-year-old cancer survivor Abdiel Collazo as its honorary “Coach of the Day” for Hockey Fights Cancer Night on Friday evening at the Prudential Center before the team’s emotional 3-2 win over the Vancouver Canucks.

Devils center Brian Boyle, who was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia just two months ago, scored the go-ahead power play goal with 9:43 left in the second period off a beautiful feed from defenseman Will Butcher.

“That was a great play by Butchy and I was excited to be able to help (our team win),” Boyle said in the locker room after the game.

The sold-out arena chanted Boyle’s name after he scored the emotional goal, his second of the season, which put the Devils ahead in the game for good.

“It’s a pretty special feeling to receive that support,” Boyle explained. “It says a lot of the crowd and the fans here in this particular city. I’ve felt the love in other cities, but this has been the way they’ve embraced me.

“This day from start to finish has been very inspiring for me. I’ll never forget it.”

It’s hard to believe that his playing career was in jeopardy only a couple of months ago.

“I was very scared for my kids because I didn’t know what was going to happen with me,” Boyle told a pool of reporters before the game. “It was extremely horrifying. I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to play again.”

However, Boyle said he responded well to the treatment and returned to practice just over a month after his diagnosis. The 11-year NHL veteran has embraced the second chance and has been thankful for the support he’s received from his teammates and around the league since his diagnosis.

“The support these guys have given me throughout my treatment has been unbelievable for me,” Boyle said speaking on the gesture of the Devils wearing the ‘#11 Boyle Strong’ patches on the special edition lavender cancer awareness jerseys during pre-game warm-ups. “This organization has been amazing to me and this is a nice touch.”

Devils forward Taylor Hall netted the game’s first goal and had assists on the other two.

“He’s been an inspiration to us all year,” the Devils’ alternate captain said of his teammate after the game. “After what he’s been through and his family has been through, it was cool to see him playing well and enjoying himself here. It puts a lot of things into perspective for us as players.”

Devils goaltender Cory Schneider was an unstoppable force between the pipes, making several key saves during a penalty kill early in the third period to preserve the team’s 3-1 lead before conceding a goal with just under 10 minutes remaining. The netminder had 23 saves on the night as he improved his record to 9-4-3.

“We’re all excited for him to share this moment with his family and just to be an example for everyone out there that they can beat this disease and be successful in life like he is,” Schneider said before the game.

Right winger Stefan Noesen played clutch defense in the waning seconds of the game with a blocked shot and clear out of the defensive zone to secure the Devils’ 13th win of the season.

Throughout the evening, the Devils honored a number of cancer survivors while raising awareness for the disease.

Montclair resident Aeisha Rokes, who recently underwent a successful surgery to remove a pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor following the birth of her second son, was honored as the Hero of the Game. The surgery was performed by Dr. Russell Langan of Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey and Saint Barnabas Medical Center, a RWJBarnabas Health facility.

Samantha Dango, from Cranford, performed the National Anthem and was accompanied by her mother and father, both cancer survivors.

Prior to the game, on the main concourse, fans purchased player-signed mystery pucks from Devils players’ wives and girlfriends in effort to raise money for cancer awareness. Additionally, the team raised funds for the cause through the night’s 50/50 raffle.

The special edition lavender warm-up jerseys will be auctioned off at NewJerseyDevils.com/HFC and fans have until Saturday, December 2 bid on the items.