Eddie Olczyk, Hockey Fights Cancer ambassador and former NHL player with a Stanley Cup and 1,031 regular-season games to his name, defeated stage three colon cancer.
He knows he’s one of the lucky ones.
For over 22 years, the NHL and NHLPA have come together annually in support of Hockey Fights Cancer as proponents in the battle against the disease. Since 1998 more than $28 million has been directed to cutting-edge cancer research and support programs for families battling cancer and moving past it.
This past August, the hockey world lost one of its beloved former players and ambassadors in Hockey Hall of Famer Dale Hawerchuk, who passed away after battling stomach cancer. Dale greatly impacted the lives of his former teammates, the cities he played in and the players that he went on to coach.
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To reflect on that impact and his continued legacy, Eddie is joined by Mark Scheifele of the Winnipeg Jets, Aaron Ekblad of the Florida Panthers and Andrew Mangiapane of the Calgary Flames, who were all coached by Dave as players for the Ontario Hockey League's Barrie Colts. The group is also joined by a few of Dave’s former teammates from his playing career – long-time NHL defenceman, Dave Babych, and Hockey Hall of Fame defenceman, Paul Coffey.
From favourite moments and instilling a deep love of the game to final phone calls with the man that impacted them all, memories are traded in the full conversation, available here.
Since its inception in 1998, Hockey Fights Cancer – a joint initiative by the National Hockey League (NHL) and National Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA) – has resulted in donations of more than $28 million to support national and local cancer research institutions, children’s hospitals, player charities, and local charities. Hockey Fights Cancer unites the hockey community in support of people impacted by cancer and their families.
