Senators honor Nicholle Anderson during Hockey Fights Cancer night (Photos)
Saturday in Ottawa was Hockey Fights Cancer night for the Senators, an organization that is all too familiar with the disease.
Senior adviser and former GM Bryan Murray was diagnosed with terminal colon cancer in 2014. PA announcer Stu Schwartz, who helped dropped the ceremonial puck before Saturdayâs game, has battled leukemia. And most recently, goaltender Craig Anderson has had to leave the team twice in the last two weeks to be with his wife, Nicholle, who was recently diagnosed with the disease.
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The Senators did their part in support for Nicholle by wearing âStick by Nikâ helmet stickers and filling out âI Fight Forâ signs before the game.
This is the helmet sticker that will be worn by the #Sens tonight. #StickByNik #HockeyFightsCancer pic.twitter.com/CepanKJxfQ
â Sens communications (@Media_Sens) November 5, 2016
Tonight we play for Nicholle, Bryan, Stu and all of the people and families fighting cancer around the world. #hockeyfightscancer pic.twitter.com/jqB2kku0kA
â Chris Wideman (@Chris_Wideman) November 5, 2016
During warm-ups, Andersonâs lavender Hockey Fights Cancer jersey had No. 23 on the back, not his normal No. 41. The reason? Twenty-three is Nicholleâs favorite number.
Craig Anderson is wearing #23 during tonight's warm-up for his wife Nicholle. It's her favourite number. #HockeyFightsCancer pic.twitter.com/JcDDgtdWGF
â Ottawa Senators (@Senators) November 5, 2016
The Senators would fall 2-1 to the Buffalo Sabres. While the team is off to a good start, Anderson has been well of late, especially since the news of Nicholleâs diagnosis was revealed.
âHeâs a strong person â him and Nicholle both, and their two boys,â said Senators defenseman Mark Borowiecki via the Ottawa Citizen. âI canât even imagine some of the emotions that heâs feeling and what him and his family have to go through on a day-to-day basis.
âFor him to show the kind of commitment heâs not only shown to our team, but to his wife, itâs pretty special to see. Itâs a testament to him as a person.â
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Sean Leahy is the associate editor for Puck Daddy on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at puckdaddyblog@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Sean_Leahy