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The New Jersey Devils and RWJBarnabas Health are again teaming for the annual Hockey Fights Cancer Night.
The Devils will square off with the Washington Capitals at 7 p.m. Nov. 30 at Prudential Center. Throughout the evening, there will be a number of special features and ways fans can get involved – with funds raised benefiting the Oncology Healing Room within the Cancer Center at Clara Maass Medical Center, an RWJBarnabas Health Facility.
Those fundraising efforts include:
A Mystery Puck sale on the main concourse before the game outside of Section 20
Hockey Fights Cancer-themed jerseys available to be worn during player arrivals will be auctioned between Nov. 30 through Dec. 7 – bids can be placed here
50/50 funds raised through that night
Special guests
The Devils will host 12-year-old Theo Koshenkov, an East Brunswick native, who was diagnosed with lymphoma earlier this year and is receiving treatment at the Rutgers Cancer Institute.
He will receive quite a gameday experience that includes:
A one-day contract signed by General Manager Tom Fitzgerald
An official team-signed jersey and locker stall
Meet-and-greet with his favorite player, Jack Hughes
Watching warmups from the penalty box
Joining the starting lineup read in the locker room
Participating in a ceremonial puck drop
Riding the Zamboni during the second intermission
Attending practice earlier in the week with his family – followed by a full team meet-and-greet
The team is also honoring Dr. Marissa Botwinick, a pediatric hematologist/oncologist at Rutgers Cancer Institute and the Bristol Myers Squibb Children’s Hospital at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, and Dawn Carey, an advanced practice nurse in the Pediatric Hematology and Oncology Program at Rutgers Cancer Institute and RWJBarnabas Health, as Heroes of the Game.
Both are members of the health care team devoted to Koshenkov.
Mya Rodriguez, a New York University student who overcame stage 2 Hodgkin’s lymphoma, will sing the national anthem.
Hockey Fights Cancer Night’s special 12-year-old guest will participate in a ceremonial puck drop at Prudential Center in Newark, as Charlie Shomers did at the 2023 event. – PROVIDED BY NJ DEVILS
Teamwork
Libutti
“As the state’s only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, Rutgers Cancer Institute together with RWJBarnabas Health continues to make strides in cancer prevention, research and treatment – and we are grateful for the devoted support of the NHL and our partner, the New Jersey Devils, in our shared mission to conquer a disease that impacts so many,” said Dr. Steven Libutti, William N. Hait Director of Rutgers Cancer Institute and senior vice president of oncology services at RWJBarnabas Health.
Additional features and activations of Hockey Fights Cancer Night include:
Devils players, coaches and management inscribed cards to support those in their fight against cancer – which will be displayed in the hallway the players pass on their way to the ice
Fans can hold up their placards and take part in a recognition during the game for those who fought, are currently fighting, or have lost their lives to cancer
Prudential Center’s M&M’s and Citizens towers will be lit purple for the night – with lavender Devils logos used on the video board and sponsor logos on the main ice dasher boards turning lavender for the night; as well as social media channels turning lavender
To honor a first-place North American finish in the October Saves fundraising campaign by Jersey youth hockey goalies (raised $163,686 in total). Ayrton Whitehouse of the Princeton Jr. Tigers (ranked first raising $22,551) and Charlie Curtiss of the New Jersey Colonials (ranked second raising $22,390) will serve as Junior Captains of the Game
On behalf of the October Saves campaign and the New Jersey Youth Hockey community, a $15,000 check will be presented to the Oncology Healing Room within the Cancer Center at Clara Maas Medical Center
“Hockey Fights Cancer Night is an opportunity to shine a spotlight on the strength and bravery of cancer patients and their families – while underscoring the importance of advancing cancer research and care,” said Libutti.
More information can be found here.