It hasn’t been a great two weeks for the National Hockey League, or the game of hockey for that matter.
Last week, former NHL tough guy Andre Deveaux saw his contract get terminated after just 20 games, after a video surfaced of him taking a golf-like swing on Vasteras IK captain Per Helmersson before tackling him to the ground and taking several shots. The incident occurred in the warm-ups of a second-tier pro game and while Deveaux was allowed to play in the game, he was let go by his team once the video came to light and an arrest warrant has been issued as Helmersson will be pressing charges.
Then, a few days ago, a series of plays sent NHL fans into a frenzy. First, there was the Alex Burrows elbow to Paul Gaustad. Burrows received fifteen minutes in penalties; a five minute major for interference and a game misconduct. With Burrows’ history of disciplinary meetings, it was expected that he’d be slapped with a multi-game suspension. Instead, he was slapped on the wrist and the NHL deemed his in-game penalties were sufficient punishment.
The second incident took place in a game pitting the New York Rangers against the Winnipeg Jets. In the second period, Dustin Byfuglien gave a scary looking cross-check to the back of the neck of J.T. Miller while he was down on the ice. While many expected the suspension to hit double digits, Byfuglien was hit with a four-game suspension, which will see the Jets blueliner forfeit $111,827.96 to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.
Finally, and this one may not have been a dirty play but was definitely just as scary, Detroit Red Wings forward Drew Miller took a skate to the face. The accidental play forced Miller to the dressing room immediately, where he required 50 stitches to close a wound that came close to taking out one of his eyes. The situation sparked a debate that ran through several cities, asking the question: “Is hockey a safe sport to put your child into, and are you hesitant to put your kid(s) in after these incidents?” While the majority remained in favor of supporting the game of hockey, many suggested establishing programs to ensure safety codes were followed, especially for children up to the age of 16.
The game of hockey took quite the black eye, but the Boston Bruins organization made sure to show the world that it isn’t all that bad. In fact, this amazing sport can do the world wonders by simply showing kindness through a pat on the head and a fist-bump.
By now, everyone knows of Liam Fitzgerald, the 8-year-old Bruins fanatic who was sitting on the bench, closed hand reached out in hopes of maybe getting a player or two to bump fists with him. The result was beautiful, every player fulfilling his small wish, some giving him a pat on the back and some communicating with him for a brief moment. Fitzgerald has Down syndrome and at the age of 4 was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, a battle he has since won. Most wonderful stories of defeating cancer and getting the opportunity to meet the hockey team you love so much would end there.
For Liam, it was only the beginning.
Last week, Fitzgerald was immortalized by the Bruins organization when he received his very own Upper Deck hockey card, presented to him before a game by the Bruins mascot and the team. Liam also had the chance to meet with captain Zdeno Chara, Milan Lucic, Brad Marchand and several former Bruins. The long-time fan who dressed up as Adam McQuaid for Halloween last October was now a card-carrying member of the Bruins organization. Literally.
But it gets better. Due to the exposure he received, Liam and his mother, Christine Fitzgerald, will be attending an event held in Northborough on April 12 known as “Bump Out Cancer.” An event that Julie Stanwood and Liz Nolan started after seeing other organizations getting behind the young boy with a beautiful story.
“Hearing all these other places doing things for him, I thought, ‘wait a minute, Northborough has to do something for him,'” Stanwood said. “It’s grown to a much bigger event.”
How big? The entire town of Northborough is behind this event. Participants will pay a fee of $5 to line up, and a wave-like chain will begin where one fist-bump is passed down the line to the next individual, who will bump fists with the individual behind them, and so on. Of course, it would only be fitting for Liam to start it all, as he and fellow cancer survivors Max Blasko, Christian Campero and William Furgal will all kick off the bump.
It all started with the bumping of fists between a young boy and an NHL team. It’s a beautiful thing to see a simple gesture explode into a wonderful turn of events leading up to a good cause that will help research for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. A classy pair of acts by the Boston Bruins has not only put a smile on Liam’s face, but it has sparked a town to raise money and show that the sport of hockey ain’t always bad. It’s actually a wonderful thing.
Well done, Bruins organization. Well done.
Photo courtesy of Boston CBS Local
