SYDNEY, N.S. — The goal of an upcoming hockey game is to battle cancer.
On Wednesday at 7 p.m., the Sydney Academy Wildcats will host the Glace Bay Panthers at The Membertou Sport and Wellness Centre.
The event is to see the Cape Breton High School Hockey League join the Canadian Cancer society, the NHL and all of Canada in the fight against cancer in this fundraiser game and the public is encouraged to bring their fight.
“There will be signs provided for people to write who they are there fighting cancer for to display throughout the game,” said Andrea Martin Surette of Glace Bay, wife of Sheldon Surette, coach of the Sydney Academy Wildcats.
“Come help support your loved one fight cancer.”
Andrea and Sheldon’s son seven-year-old son Kellen lost his battle with leukemia on Sept. 11, 2013.
Sydney Academy will proudly represent Team Kellen by wearing orange and black in memory of Kellen.
Cancer survivor Michael Doucet of Glace Bay is one of the coaches of the Glace Bay Panthers.
The Glace Bay hockey team will wear purple to represent the ongoing battle against cancer and to honour Doucette, who was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma in January 2016,.
Surette actually coached Doucette when he was playing for the Panthers.
“It is a pretty cool story to have two people who are coaching these teams who cancer affected their lives, getting involved,” said Martin Surette.
Uniquely enough, Sheldon even coached Michael when he was playing for the Panthers.
“Both teams were happy to do it as it touched home for both of them.”
The Canadian Cancer society will be donating special colour tape for the players sticks. There will be, ‘I fight for ….’ cards available for fans to fill out and proudly display who they are there fighting cancer for throughout the evening.”
The NHL and the NHLPA united in 1998 with the Hockey Fights Cancer initiative, which resulted so far in donations of more than $20 million to support the fight against cancer at national and local cancer research institutions, children’s hospitals, player charities and local charities as well as support those battling cancer and their families.
During Hockey Fights Cancer Awareness Month, every National Hockey League team joins the hockey family's fight against cancer by hosting their very own Hockey Fights Cancer Awareness Night - a night when players, fans, team personnel and partners come together to raise money and awareness for hockey's most important fight.

sharon.montgomery@cbpost.com

IF YOU GO:

• A cancer fundraiser hockey game between the Sydney Academy Wildcats and Glace Bay Panthers will be held at the Membertou Sport and Wellness Centre, Wednesday, Jan. 9. At 7 p.m.
• Admission is $5 for, $3 for seniors and $2 for students.
• There will be 50/50 tickets and a donation box.
• There will be signs for fans where they can fill in the name of the loved one, neighbour, friend, etc. they are there to fight cancer for.