STAFFORD – A 12-year-old Manahawkin boy was honored to drop the puck in a game where the New Jersey Devils defeated the Philadelphia Flyers 5-2 at the Prudential Center.
Lucas Files was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in October 2015 and received treatment at Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey and Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital. He completed treatment in December 2018.
Lucas was there as part of the New Jersey Devils Fights Cancer program. Some of the highlights of the evening included Devils goalie Mackenzie Blackwood wearing a mask inspired by Lucas during pre-game warm-ups. Lucas is a huge Devils fan and Blackwood is his favorite player. Lucas was given the helmet and a HFC-taped warm-up stick.
A red carpet was set up for Lucas to walk to center ice for the special ceremonial puck drop – a faceoff between Devils Captain Nico Hischier and the Flyers’ Oskar Lindblom, a cancer survivor himself.
The event hosted by the New Jersey Devils was also presented By RWJBarnabas Health with the Rutgers Cancer Institute. Funds were raised for the Cancer Center at Saint Barnabas Medical Center.
The Devils also honored a special “Hero Among Us” during the Hockey Fights Cancer Night. Christian Koncewicz, a 9-year-old from Middletown, is currently undergoing treatment for leukemia at Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey and Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital. Christian, who plays hockey, football and baseball, is determined to win his fight with cancer.
The Devils held a Mystery Puck sale on the main concourse prior to the game. There was a limited number of player-autographed Hockey Fights Cancer pucks, which were sold for $25. Ten lucky fans received a Golden Mystery Puck, where they will receive an additional prize.
In addition to the Mystery Puck sale, there were a limited number of Love Your Melon beanies sold on Prudential Center’s main concourse during the game.
The Devils and RWJBarnabas Health dedicated the renovation of Clara Maass Medical Center’s Infusion Center to former Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment employee Dean Brzuskiewicz, who passed away after from a courageous battle with cancer in 2020. The Devils donated proceeds from last season’s Hockey Fights Cancer Night in Dean’s name to benefit the renovation, which will provide cancer patients with the amenities needed to help them through their treatments while at Clara Maass.
“Hockey Fights Cancer is a terrific campaign across the NHL and the New Jersey Devils’ commitment to embrace this initiative and help raise funds to fight a disease that impacts so many is extremely impactful,” said Dr. Steven Libutti, the director of the Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey and senior vice president, Oncology Services, RWJBarnabas Health.
