FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. - Newly elected Fort St. John mayor Trevor Bolin took centre ice Saturday night to drop the ceremonial puck at the Fort St. John Huskies’ annual ‘Stick It To Cancer’ game, an event aimed at raising awareness and money for local cancer-related causes.
For Bolin, the evening carried added meaning.
The mayor-elect, who recently completed chemotherapy treatments, said he was honoured when the Huskies approached him about participating in the event.
“They said, would you be willing to drop the puck for Stick It To Cancer?’” Bolin recalled. “How do you say no to that? So of course, I jumped at the opportunity.”
The game supported both the Fort St. John Hospital Foundation and the Fort St. John Cancer Survivor’s Group that Bolin says has helped him through his own treatment journey this year.
A lifelong resident and longtime Huskies supporter, Bolin praised the role local sports organizations play in bringing the community together.
“The community holds a very special place in their hearts for the Huskies,” he said. “They’ve always represented Fort St. John extremely well.”
While the Huskies fell 6-5 to the Beaverlodge Blades, the focus of the evening remained firmly on cancer awareness, fundraising and community support.
Team volunteers sold raffle tickets, organized fundraising activities and worked alongside local organizations to collect donations.
“There was money raised. There was awareness raised. It was a heck of a hockey game, and everybody came together,” said Bolin. “The event was certainly more than I expected and it was widely received by the residents.”
The evening capped off a busy Saturday for the mayor-elect that also included community events and election night activities. Yet Bolin said stepping onto the ice stood out above everything else.
“The highlight of my entire month was being able to drop that puck for that game,” he said.
As he continues post-treatment testing and recovery, Bolin says events like Stick It To Cancer are a reminder of the community spirit that helped carry him through a difficult year.
“Anytime you see some of these events going on, make sure that you’re there,” he said. “Get involved in local hockey. Get involved in local sport.”