Hockey Fights Cancer Hits Close to Home for New York Rangers

NEW YORK, NY – As New Yorkers were making their rush hour commutes home on Monday evening at Penn Station they may have noticed the subtle lavender-colored pillars on the exterior of Madison Square Garden, but it was the signal of a special night inside the world’s most famous arena.

That’s not just because the fan favorite Mats Zuccarello was making his first appearance at Madison Square Garden since being traded from the New York Rangers last season. Rather, the Rangers were hosting Hockey Fights Cancer Night, a joint initiative between the National Hockey League and National Hockey League Players’ Association while celebrating cancer survivors throughout the team’s 3-2 overtime win over the Minnesota Wild.

Cancer is a disease that affects virtually every family in some sort of way and it’s a cause that hits close to home for many Rangers players and coaches.

Rangers head coach David Quinn lost his father to cancer in 2010.

“We’ve all been touched by cancer in some way, shape or form,” Quinn said during the pre-game press conference. “You stand behind that bench in every arena this month and pay tribute to these people who are putting forth this courageous battle of not only themselves but the families that go through it.”

Bradly Lingad, 7, who was diagnosed with Leukemia in 2016 and completed treatment just three months ago at Cohen Children’s Medical Center received the honor of participating in the ceremonial puck drop with Rangers alternate captain Jesper Fast and Zuccarello of the Wild. Shortly after, he rang the bell with his older brother by his side and received a standing ovation from the sellout crowd.

The Rangers honored 10 children from the Cohen Children’s Medical Center, a Northwell hospital location on the ice during the National Anthem, which was performed by cancer survivors Jenna Waldron, 16, of Logan Township, NJ and Samantha Haase, 16, of Waldwick, NJ.

“It gets emotional no matter how many times you stand behind that bench and we honor people fighting the fight,” Quinn added. “It hits home for sure and tonight will be another emotional night for all of us in the arena.”

Meanwhile, Rangers second year defenseman Ryan Lindgren said it was going to be a ‘special night’ for him as he discussed the recent leukemia diagnosis last February of his billet dad he had for two years while playing collegiate hockey at the University of Michigan.

“He went through all his treatments and spent a lot of time in the hospital,” Lindgren said recalling the visits he made with him over the summer. “He’s doing a lot better now, but that was a tough time for all of us because they mean so much to us.”

For those who are unfamiliar with what billets dads are, The Hockey News underscored their importance and the value they provide to NHL prospects in a feature outlining the support system that they offer.

“It’s definitely a special time for me to put on that jersey today,” suggested Lindgren talking about the lavender-colored jersey the Rangers wore in the pre-game warmups. “I also had an aunt that passed away from breast cancer as well so it’s definitely going to be a special night. This whole initiative that the NHL does with Hockey Fights Cancer is very special.”

Last month, Rangers veteran goaltender Henrik Lundqvist donated $50,000 through the Henrik Lundqvist Foundation in support of Hockey Fights Cancer and the Survivors Facing Forward Program at Cohen Children’s Medical Center while interacting with the kids in a closed ice session.

“It’s a great feeling to be able to help other people,” Lundqvist explained in the video on the Henrik Lundqvist Foundation website. “That’s what we’re trying to do with the Henrik Lundqvist Foundation through the connections and resources that we have with the fight against cancer and try to find organizations that do a good job to support them as best as we could.”

Theresa Mayr, RN coordinator at the Survivors Facing Forward Program at Cohen Children’s Medical Center said it was an ‘exciting moment for the kids’ to meet their favorite goalie and how much of an impact the grant was going to make for the program.

“I think it’s a great initiative by the league,” Lundqvist said of the NHL’s Hockey Fights Cancer initiative in the locker room after the team’s morning skate. “For us, being in this role we definitely have an opportunity to make an impact on other people in a good way.”

Lundqvist made 26 saves on 28 shots as he moved into fifth place on the NHL wins list with his 455th victory between the pipes.

Meanwhile on the other side of the ice, Wild left winger Zach Parise, who played in the New York metropolitan area for seven seasons with the New Jersey Devils lost his father in 2015 to lung cancer.

“I love what the NHL has done with this program,” Parise suggested. “Everyone’s got their own personal stories with family members or friends close to them myself included.”

Fans can still get involved and share their stories using the official hashtag #HockeyFightsCancer and by visiting the official website to download an "I Fight For" card. Merchandise is available at shop.nhl.com.