On November 27, Thanksgiving Eve, the LA Kings played the Winnipeg Jets at Crypto.com arena in downtown Los Angeles. I went to this game with my family which was also the Kings’ annual “cancer night.” As a Kings fan and as someone impacted by cancer, I look forward to this themed night because the energy is different. It’s not just about hockey but about coming together for something bigger.

During the game, I met the couple sitting in front of us. At first, I thought they were just casual hockey fans, but it turned out they weren’t even into hockey at all. They told me they come to this game every year just to support cancer research. The husband is a cancer survivor, and he and his wife chatted quite a bit with my mom throughout the game, not about cancer but about the great seats we had, the energy in the place and life in general. They had a clear connection.

While I showed up in my jersey mostly just excited to watch LA crush Winnipeg, meeting these great people reminded me why nights like this matter. It’s not just about raising money, it’s about showing up and being there for each other.

I want to share their story and keep reminding people that even small actions can make a big impact. You don’t have to spend a lot of money to make a difference. Sometimes just showing up, like they do every year, is enough to inspire.

That night, the Kings beat the Jets 4-1, but what really stuck with me was the feeling of hope and unity in the arena.