As an HFC Champion, Killorn is bringing awareness to cancer screening

Feature Photo: Getty Images

Alex Killorn is using his words to encourage action.

A Champion for Hockey Fights Cancer, a joint initiative between the NHLPA and NHL powered by the V Foundation presented by AstraZeneca, Killorn is encouraging cancer screenings, while also educating and empowering the hockey community.

When the opportunity arose to lend his support to AstraZeneca’s “Get Body Checked Against Cancer” campaign, the Anaheim Ducks winger thought of his own personal connections to the disease.

“It was very fitting for me to do this,” said Killorn, who has lost three of his grandparents to cancer. “Obviously, not just my situation, but also how many people have been affected by cancer in some way. If we can help raise awareness and get people motivated to get screened, I think this is such a great way to go about doing that.”

Joining Jacob Trouba and Ryan McDonagh on a growing list, the HFC Champions are voicing their support for a campaign that has a goal to save lives.

Killorn was inspired to get involved through his own personal loss. He was nine when his paternal grandfather succumbed to pancreatic cancer and was a teenager when two other grandparents passed from colon cancer and breast cancer.

Killorn was nine when his paternal grandfather succumbed to pancreatic cancer and was a teenager when two other grandparents passed from colon cancer and breast cancer.

The native of Nova Scotia has fond recollections of all his grandparents.

“On my mom’s side, my grandparents, who lived in New Brunswick, we would always go there whether it was at Christmas or in the summertime – those were such great memories. We were so young and were at the age where all day we always found fun things to do. It was great to be around them, especially around Christmas, when we shared a lot of fun times together.”

Killorn, who played the first 11 seasons of his NHL career with the Tampa Bay Lightning and won back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2020 and 2021, is looking to play his part in motivating the hockey community to get tested for cancer.

Being part of the AstraZeneca campaign has been a reality check for Killorn, who, along with former Lightning teammate and friend Ryan McDonagh, co-hosted a Jam Kancer in the Kan event in 2020, raising $102,000 for the Adolescent and Young Adult program at the Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa.

“Another big reason, I wanted to do this was because of my parents. As my parents get older, you want to make sure they are in good health and embrace the importance of cancer screening. I would want that for everyone.

“If I can help get that message out there, it would make me very happy. There have been so many strides that have been made in testing, which I hope people will take advantage of.”

Anaheim hosted its Hockey Fights Cancer Night on Nov. 5. The organization has been personally affected by cancer in recent years. Will Francis, a sixth-round pick of the team in 2019, and former Ducks coach Mike Stothers and current director of goaltending for the club, Sudarshan Maharaj, were all diagnosed with cancer.

All three men are now cancer-free.

“That night is so important in so many ways,” said Killorn.

He would certainly know.

During a Hockey Fights Cancer night with the Tampa Bay Lightning, Killorn met young cancer patient MaKayla Muir.

She posted a photo of the two while donning a Harvard University game-worn hockey jersey gifted by Killorn, accompanied by a heartfelt message.

MaKayla passed away in 2021, but made a lasting impression on many people, including Killorn.

“Obviously, you see a lot of courageous people who are going through very difficult times, whether it happens to be them, family or someone close to them. People like MaKayla are very inspirational.

“When it is someone younger, it hits a bit harder. It puts a lot of things in perspective, especially as NHL players, realizing how fortunate we are to do what we do.”

Killorn praises his grandparents for helping him achieve his NHL dream.  

“I wouldn’t be here without what they did for me, how they supported me and encouraged me. I think about them often, especially at this time of the year.”

He is also thinking of others.

“Even if you can catch something earlier, it’s always better. You want to let people know they should get screened, where they can get screened, how they can get screened – we just want to provide that awareness and let them know we care.”