Blood drive honours teenager who’s fighting for his life
Fifteen-year-old was able to come home for a few days at Christmas from Hospital for Sick Children, but continues to battle a rare form of leukemia
As we all celebrated a unique holiday season, here’s a few sports-related tidbits you may have missed in recent days.
A blood drive is being organized in honour of a young hockey player fighting for his life in a Toronto hospital.
The Blood Drive for Jordie will be held Jan. 19 at the Canadian Blood Services’ Peterborough Donor Centre from 2 to 8 p.m. by appointment only.
It’s in honour of Jordan Preston, a 15-year-old who has been in Toronto’s Hospital For Sick Children since early November when he was diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia.
Heather Kenny, who works with Jordan’s mother, Monica Preston, at the Shining Waters Chiropractic Clinic, said 12 of their co-workers signed up for the clinic and about 15 spots remain open.
Kenny also started a GoFundMe page for the Preston family to offset the family’s expenses and lost wages. Monica has been with Jordan since his admission to hospital. The goal was to raise $25,000 and with an off-line donation not yet added to the GoFundMe page, they have raised $32,000, Kenny said.
Jordan was able to come home for a few days at Christmas but Kenny said the chemotherapy treatments have been tough on the teen.
To sign up for the clinic, visit blood.ca
Peterborough Petes firstround CHL Import Draft pick Brian Zanetti was a late cut from Switzerland’s National Junior Team. Zanetti made the trek to Canada as the youngest player on the Swiss pre-tournament roster.
Petes GM Mike Oke said Zanetti was sent home without playing a pre-tournament game.
He will return if and when the Petes next training camp is held.
Ex-Pete Pavel Gogolev has signed to play pro hockey in Sweden.
Gogolev is the first Russianborn player to sign with Vasby IK in Sweden’s Second Division.
“Pavel is an offensively skilled player with a good eye and a good sense of purpose,” said Vasby sports director Tom Tarnstrom.
“I see him as a real joker who may surprise the opponents during the second part of the season. It will be very exciting to follow him here in Vasby.”
The Premier Lacrosse League and Major League Lacrosse have merged.
The combined leagues will play under the Premier Lacrosse League banner beginning in 2021.
As part of the merger, the PLL will immediately expand to include the Boston Cannons as the PLL’s eighth team under the rebranded name Cannons Lacrosse Club.
The Cannons Lacrosse Club roster will be entirely selected through an expansion draft in 2021.
Additionally, the PLL will retain the rights to all of the former MLL teams for future expansion considerations.
The 2021schedule will include former MLL team markets and a long-term plan to develop youth lacrosse players in historical MLL communities.
Peterborough Lakers’ Josh and Zach Currier, Matt Gilray and Jake Withers have played in the two leagues in recent years.
Greg Element, coach for the PHA’s U9 Team 3 Petes was last week’s Peterborough Petes exceptional minor hockey volunteer of the week.
The Petes want to celebrate local minor hockey volunteers for their contribution to the planning, organizing and execution of local minor hockey’s return to play this season.
Element has spent 10 years coaching players of all skill levels from house league to AA from tyke to bantam. He’s described as a firm coach who is well respected in the locker room and maintains a great bond with players. Players and parents alike have a deep appreciation for his coaching philosophy, stated a Petes news release.
“He’s known for creating an environment that encourages young athletes to learn and develop on and off the ice,” said Valerie Gagnon, who nominated Element.
“He creates a positive and fun learning space that fosters a lifelong love of the game.”
The Petes welcome people to send nominations at gopetesgo.com/ volunteer-of-the-week -nominations