Buffalo firefighter and recreational league hockey goalie Mike Chase wasn’t sure what to expect on the ice Saturday afternoon.
He laced up his skates and strapped on the pads just once over the past six months. But there was no way he was skipping this year’s 11 Day Power Play – the giant hockey game fundraiser to benefit cancer research and programs for cancer patients and their families.
Chase, 47, loves the game. But he also has a deeply personal connection to the cause. His 5-year-old son, Owen, was diagnosed in December with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, a form of childhood cancer that affects the body’s ability to fight infections.
In front of a giant poster featuring him and his son, Owen, goalie Mike Chase prepares in the locker room before his team’s shift during the 11 Day Power Play Community Shift on Saturday, July 6, 2019. (Derek Gee/Buffalo News)