'Feels like my mom was in the building': For this Moosehead, Fight Cancer Night is personal
For the second straight season on the Halifax Mooseheads' annual Fight Cancer Night, Braeden MacPhee has found a way to honour his late mom.
MacPhee's mom, Jolene Conway, died of cancer in April 2023 at the age of 46.
MacPhee, a 20-year-old forward from Moncton, N.B., scored his team's first goal on Saturday night on the way to a 2-1 comeback win over the Acadie-Bathurst Titan.
"It just kinda has some relief off the shoulders and it feels like my mom was in the building with me, which is always really special," he said.
MacPhee also scored at last season's Fight Cancer Night game.
The cancer night games raise funds and awareness for all types of cancer, and the purple jerseys players wear for the night are auctioned off.
Halifax Mooseheads goalie Jacob Steinman, 20, joined the team last month in a trade. He said that while he's still getting to know his teammates, he knew what the game meant to MacPhee.
"I know this night means the most, [it's] the biggest thing to him," said Steinman. "And just for him to score was just unbelievable to watch and especially just to win."
The Mooseheads had a slow start, only getting their first shot on net about 15 minutes into the first period.
The team was trailing 1-0 until MacPhee's goal with about one minute left in the second period gave the team a spark.
MacPhee was named the first star of the game, earning a rousing ovation from an announced crowd of 8,300.
His mother only told him and his younger brother about her cancer diagnosis a couple of months before her death. She wanted them to focus on sports.
Her obituary noted Conway's passion for her kids' sporting activities.
"She had a kind and generous heart and was always willing to help others," it said. "Her positive outlook on life and infectious smile will be deeply missed by all who knew her."
MacPhee said his mom always told him to look at the bright side of things.
"It's a missing part of my life, but she would want me to keep working hard, keep chasing after my dreams," he said. "And that's exactly what I'm gonna do."
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