It’s a relationship like no other. The bond that exists between hockey fans and their favourite player, goes deeper than sport.
Players and Fans
It’s a human-interest story that happens with kids and adults and players. When a fan’s player scores a goal, makes a big hit, or gets into a fight, win or lose, the bond deepens. Usually, the player has no inkling of the emotional depth of the fan. And when a terminal illness is in the mix, the relationship morphs into something sacred.
I’m a lifelong Boston Bruins fan. Brad Marchand was one of the most hated Bruin players in the NHL. “The Rat”. Us Bruins fans were gutted when management traded him to the hated Florida Panthers. But jersey colours don’t change the love of true fans.
Sophie
Watching Bruins games together had given Mark, and his 8-year-old daughter Sophie, precious memories, and Brad Marchand was her favorite player. Sophie was diagnosed with terminal cancer and as her condition deteriorated, Sophie expressed one final wish: to meet the man who had inspired her with his determination and spirit on the ice.
A father’s letter, a nurse’s compassion, the power of social media and a pro athlete’s kind heart led to “Marchy” flying back to Boston to be with Sophie.
I’m not crying. The moment he walked in, the room was filled with emotion. Sophie, weak but smiling, couldn’t believe her eyes. The man she had cheered for, the player who had given her joy even in her toughest times, was now standing right beside her.
Look at her expression in the photo.
One more time.
Brad has two daughters and a stepson.
He knows.
He spent hours with Sophie, talking about hockey, joking with her, and sharing stories from his career. And, he brought her a signed Panthers jersey and even FaceTimed with some of his teammates so they could send their love and encouragement.
Then he pulled out a special gift: his game-worn Boston Bruins jersey from one of the last games he played before his trade.
The gift of presence was the one only he could give.
Sophie died a few weeks later, God love her.
A Habs Fan
When Montreal Canadians player, Brendan Gallagher’s mom passed away earlier this year, Lucie Lachance, a Gallagher fan, offered to return his purple and white Hockey Fights Cancer practice jersey from 2022 in her memory. On the jersey’s “I Fight For” label, Gallagher had written the word “Mom” in tribute to his mother.
Delia Gallagher passed away on March 8 from stage IV brain cancer.
Lucie had won the jersey at an auction on the team’s Hockey Fights Cancer night that year. 
After the Canadiens’ last home game of the 2025 season, Gallagher and Lachance met on the ice. They hugged, and Gallagher gave her his signed game-used jersey. In return, Lachance gave him the Hockey Fights Cancer jersey in a floral box—something to remember his mom by.
As they shared one last hug, fans in the arena chanted “Gally,” showing their love and support for Gallagher and his fight against cancer. 
Hockey fan or not, I hope that you love that this could have been done silently but I’m glad it wasn’t.
People being decent towards each other needs to be the news we hear.
It’s Stanley Cup season in Canada. Heroes will arise.
In a real way, they already have.
Would you take a minute and join the conversation and post a comment below. Merci.
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