Nashville Predators goaltender Juuse Saros is celebrating the NHL’s Hockey Fights Cancer initiative with a new mask honoring four members of the Preds organization impacted by cancer.
Saros’ new mask honors locker room attendant Craig “Partner” Baugh as well as Sheila Crisp, wife of former Preds broadcaster Terry Crisp; Erin Daunic, wife of Preds play-by-play announcer Willy Daunic; and Lexi Rogers, daughter of Preds equipment manager Pete Rogers.
Baugh is a prostate cancer survivor. Rogers was diagnosed with cancer earlier this year.
Daunic, who worked as a nonprofit executive in Nashville, died in July at age 54.
The Predators’ official Hockey Fights Cancer night will take place during a Nov. 22 home game against the Colorado Avalanche.
Saturday’s game will benefit the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, according to the team.
Fans are also able to purchase ticket packages that include a themed hat in order to benefit the 365 Pediatric Cancer Fund, an initiative created in 2013 by former Preds stars Shea Weber and Pekka Rinne.
Saros’ mask was painted by DaveArt’s David Gunnarsson, who has created custom masks for goaltenders across the NHL.
Gunnarsson wrote Monday on Instagram that the Tennessee stars painted on top of the mask symbolize “hope, unity, and the power of fighting together.”
Saros isn’t the only goaltender using his mask to celebrate those fighting cancer in honor of leaguewide Hockey Fights Cancer nights.
Philadelphia Flyers goaltenders Sam Ersson and Dan Vladar will wear custom masks featuring illustrations from kids fighting cancer during warmups ahead of a Thursday home game against the St. Louis Blues.
After splitting the 2025 Global Series in Stockholm with the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Predators are returning to North America ranked eighth in the Central Division with a 6-10-4 record.
Saros, who is in his 11th season with the team, is heading into Saturday’s matchup with the Avs having recorded a .892 save percentage and 2.97 goals against average in his first 16 starts of the season.