On Saturday, the New Jersey Devils will face off against the Buffalo Sabres. During the game, the Devils will have various ways for fans to get involved to help raise funds for the Cancer Transportation Program at Community Medical Center in Toms River. RWJBarnabas Health, together with Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, is the state’s only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center.
A special part of the evening is welcoming 13-year-old Charlie Shomers – a cancer patient and lifelong Devils fan – and his family to the game. Charlie, from Hillsborough, was diagnosed with ependymoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer, in July. After a successful surgery in July to remove the tumor and six weeks of radiation therapy treatment, Charlie completed treatment in October at The Bristol-Myers Squibb Children’s Hospital at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital and Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey and is on the road to recovery.
His gameday experience will include a one-day contract signed by General Manager Tom Fitzgerald, an official jersey and locker stall, a meet-and-greet with his favorite Devils player Jack Hughes, watching warmups from the penalty box, joining the starting lineup read in the locker room, participating in a ceremonial puck drop, and riding the Zamboni during the second intermission.
The Devils will also honor Dr. Rahul Parikh, medical director of the Laurie Proton Therapy Center at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital and Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, as the Hero of the Game. Dr. Parikh leads a team of specialists who provide sophisticated radiation therapy treatments to both adult and pediatric cancer patients across the RWJBarnabas Health system.
Prior to the game, the National Anthem will be sung by Samantha Blossey, whose parents are both cancer survivors.
Lily Giordano of the NJ Colonials will serve as Junior Captain of the game.
You can hold up a sign for anyone you know who has courageously fought, is currently fighting, or has lost their life to cancer, by holding up a Hockey Fights Cancer placard at your seat during the first period. There will be other special in-game activations and game presentation elements to honor the event, which you can join by participating in a photo activation area on the main concourse outside of Section 20 where you can take a photo and tag @NJDevils and #PruPics on social media.
The Devils will host a Mystery Puck sale on the main concourse prior to the game outside of Section 20. There will be a limited number of player-autographed pucks, which will be sold for $25, cash only.
Fans will have the opportunity to bid on the Devils’ Hockey Fights Cancer-themed jerseys. The auction (and web link) will go live on November 25 and run through December 2. Fans will be able to place their bid at newjerseydevils.com/HFC. Funds raised through that night’s 50/50 will benefit the Cancer Transportation Program at Community Medical Center as well.
The Devils will get in on the action as well. Players, coaches and management signed cards to support those in their fight against cancer, and those placards will be displayed in the hallway that the players pass on their way to the ice that evening.
The Devils will recognize top fundraising New Jersey youth hockey goaltenders who raised $130,000 last month for October Saves, which raises money each year for cancer research. Lucas Epstein of the Rockets Hockey Club finished in first place for New Jersey, raising over $10,000. October Saves and the New Jersey Youth Hockey Community will be donating $10,000 to the Cancer Transportation Program at Community Medical Center. The New Jersey Colonials raised over $25,000 this year, including goalie Lily Giordano, who raised over $5,681 for October Saves herself.
Plus, Prudential Center’s M&M’s and Citizens towers will be lit purple for the night, lavender Devils logos will be used on the video board throughout the game, and the sponsor logos on the main ice dasher boards will turn lavender for the night.
Additionally, there will be a Jam Kancer in the Kan Foundation promo for Devils defenseman Brendan Smith’s Kancer Jam event on January 7, 2024. The New Jersey Devils game is at 7 pm on Saturday, November 25 (Hockey Fights Cancer Night) at Prudential Center in Newark. Tickets start at $36.
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