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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Good Morning Pastor Bob…Your blog had me in tears. I worked at The Cross when there was no children’s hospital yet. So, we had children come for treatment during the day as outpatients. Many times I dodged little bald sweet children, attached to their IV poles, running down the hallway on Station 30. It made me smile & giggle, but at the same time…it was heartbreaking. Working at The Cross…you have to try to remain professional, so you don’t get too attached to your patients. Or else, it is just draining emotionally. It really does take a certain personality to work there. You have to try, to not get too emotionally involved…just to protect your own mental health. Or you can burn out really easily. I was able to do that for years…until we got a late admission, after I was finished supervising the dinner meal service. It had never happened before…a 8 year old girl was admitted because there was no other bed for her in the city. I got a call from the Nursing Station about this “special admission” as I talked to the Nursing Unit Supervisor. I went to see her & her Mom (she had 2 other children in tow.) I asked her what she would like to have for dinner & I would make it for her myself…just to make sure it was made the right way. “A hotdog & a strawberry milkshake”. I went down to the cafeteria…got the ingredients & made the said items. She was so pleased & her Mom had a huge smile on her face …& they both thanked me. I was glad to oblige. I went home & told my husband what happened, on the phone. (He worked out of town…I couldn’t hold back the tears.) This little girl, also had a rare form of cancer…that only adults get. She was on that Unit for 3 weeks until they found her a room at a hospital in a children’s ward. So, I saw her every day before all meals, & saw her Mom & the 2 siblings. Fast forward…to about 2 years later. I attended The Butterdome Craft Show…I could hear my name called out…I was looking all around…& I finally approached the woman calling out my name. She said Hi! & I said, “Hi, I’m sorry..I don’t recognize you…Did we meet somewhere before?” She replied…”I’m *** Mom…”. I replied…”Oh! How is she?” Her Mom told me that she had passed & that she was divorced. She was selling girls hair accessories. Barrettes, hair clips, etc. She told me…she wanted to thank me for treating her daughter so kindly. I just said, that I was doing my job like I was supposed to. She said…no, you went above & beyond Julie…you were doing more than just your job. I thanked her again…& told her that I was so sorry to hear of her loss. Anyways, I kept it together until I got outside. I cried all the way to my car…& just broke down in my car. Since, this little girl passed…I had become a Mom myself…also, to a little girl. When I got home, I told my husband…who was at home on his break…I fell apart. It was the kids that I saw at The Cross…that just broke my heart. I could not handle kids getting cancer…they were so young…so not fair. So, another triggered moment. Thank you for sharing this blog with us. ❤️ We all need to realize that, some individuals are fighting health issues that we do not know of…& to be kind & compassionate. You don’t know how you might be playing a role…in their journey…no matter how big or small. It may mean everything to them…on how you treated them. I learned the most from my patients…adults & children…that no book could ever teach me. ❤️ Have a great day Pastor Bob. ❤️
What a story, Julie. Thank you for sharing it. The influence of kindness is magnified in traumatic situations. A hot dog and a strawberry milkshake become the most important thing in the world to that little girl in that moment and you delivered. Celebrity is not required to be a hero to a child or anyone suffering with cancer. Nurses make all the difference in a patient’s experience.
Nursing is a sacred calling as well as a career. I expressed gratitude to each of my nurses for what they do. One was in her 17th year of service. Given the context that nurses work in, hers was a devotion that went above and beyond.