QMJHL Moncton Wildcats

Rio Saves To Help Fight Cancer

January 14, 2010 - Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL)
Moncton Wildcats News Release


Moncton, NB - Moncton Wildcats goaltender Nicola Riopel is on a mission to stop pucks and fight cancer. Rio was today named CHL goaltender of the week. He was last year's MVP in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League returning to the Wildcats from the American Hockey League after the Christmas break. Since rejoining the Cats, he has a 6-1-0-0 record including one shutout.

Now Rio has set his sights on another challenge, he intends to stop pucks to help long time Wildcats Season ticket holder Kevin Rickard in his battle with cancer.

"My family has lost members to cancer in the last year and I know how painful that can be," Riopel said. "I want to use my hockey talents to help a member of our Wildcats family in his battle to be a winner in the biggest game of his life, beating cancer. I'm donating a dollar for every save I make at home games for the remainder of the season and the Wildcats are matching my donation. So far we have $78.00 in the bank but that number will grow with the remaining 13 home games."

Kevin Rickard of Fredericton and his wife Anella have been season ticket holders with the Wildcats since 2004. They travel to Moncton for every home game and often make trips to Saint John and Bathurst to see the Wildcats on the road.

Cancer struck Kevin in December of 2008. After treatment in Saint John last summer, it appeared his cancer had gone into remission but just a few weeks later, during a checkup, they were given the devastating news the cancer had returned.

Determined to be as strong as the young hockey players he supports, Kevin took the battle to the next level, stem cell transplantation. Last week at the Queen Elizabeth Health Centre in Halifax, his stem cells were harvested and early in February, he'll return to Halifax for two days of intensive chemotherapy and following two days of rest will begin the process of having his stem cells transplanted back in his body.

Wildcats General Manager Bill Schurman, who has known the Rickards for eight years, said the team and Rio are humbled to be given the opportunity of helping in this fight. "Kevin and Anella have shown remarkable courage over the past 14 months and the Wildcats are happy to support Rio in his effort to help Kevin, while bringing attention to battling cancer which affects so many Canadians," Mr. Schurman said. "We'll cheer for Rio every time he makes a save and we'll watch the dollar count rise as we head into the last part of the season. It will be an exciting time for Rio, the Wildcats and the Rickards," he concluded.

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Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League Stories from January 14, 2010


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