Hockey Player and Family in Need

Lessons learned from hockey:
    When a child decides he or she wants to play hockey the uninformed parent has no idea about the journey THEY are about to embark on.  Yes... THEY...  Any parent that has a hockey player can sympathize with the early morning practices and games, long car rides to and from the rink, weekend stays at a hotel for a tournament, and the stress of season ending try outs for the following season.  What we learn along the way is we spend more time with our extended "hockey family" than we do with any other group in our lives.  We hope our chidren learn that the name on the front of their jerseys is more important than the one on their backs and the value of hard work and determination.  Sports mimics life in so many ways and on so many levels.  However in the game of life we ultimately all wear the same jersey.
    Caeden McGondel is an aspiring 14 year old hockey player.  He has played for The Rangers, The Wizards, The Bulldogs, and The Islanders organizations.  He comes from a great hockey family.  His mother Sheri is raising 4 boys, which includes her husband Jamie.  Jamie contiues to play and coach hockey.  Unfortunately hockey has taken a back seat for Caeden this season as he has been recently diagnosed with Ewing Sarcoma which is a form of childhood cancer in his back.  He can not continue to wear his Islander's jersey this season as he starts his long and bumpy road to recovery.  While he sheds his Islanders jersey, he contiues to wear the same jersey we all wear outside of the rink.  No parent or child could prepare for challenges that Caeden and his family will face in the coming months.  The hockey community/world is small one and is truly a family.  While hockey patents tend to be a bit crazy, there is no better "sports family" who will care for and support each other.  Please join Caeden and his family and show support for a player and hockey family in need when it comes to the game of life.  Some things are more important than the score of a game at the final buzzer or what hockey jersey you are currently wearing.  Thank you in advance for your support and generosity in any way that you are able.