Jacen Craig is once again leading the way in the October Saves Goaltender Challenge to raise money for Cancer.
Last year the youngster raised more money than any other Canadian, setting a high water mark of $3600. This year he’s already hit $5000 with just over a week left to collect some last-minute donations.
He has been participating in the October Saves fundraised since 2018-19, and absolutely loves that he can play hockey and make a difference at the same time.
If you ask the 13-year-old about his current fundraising campaign his answer is simple, and to the point, “I’m just doing what I love.”
There’s a bit more to it though, once you dig a little deeper.
Cancer is a touchy subject at the best of times, and we often overlook the impact it has on the lives of not just the people suffering directly but how it affects their family units as well.
For Jacen, his family has been dealing with their own battle. His father has just finished 40 rounds of radiation, 13 cycles of chemotherapy, and 2 surgeries as he’s taken on Rectal Cancer.
There were times when Jacen was unable to see his dad, Lee Craig, when he would be in the hospital or resting after treatments, and a lot of the time his mother Phyllis would have to step in and make sure Jacen got to hockey, among other things.
So the October Saves Charity fundraiser touches pretty close to home for the Craig family.
The fundraiser was introduced to the Craigs at the Mitch Korn Goalie Camp, which he attends annually in New York State.
Mitch is a legend in the Goalie Coaching realm, he’s worked with some of the best players in the game, Dominic Hasek, Pekka Rinne, Braedan Holtby, and even Oakville’s own Steve Mason.
After Mitch announced the challenge to the players and parents the Craigs immediately jumped on board.
And Once they got back to Oakville they got down to business, and now Jacen is campaigning for a third season, and blowing his own record out of the water.
This season has been a little different for Jacen, he’s switched teams, and is no longer playing in Oakville.
Even though he’s now playing in Mississauga he’s receiving an incredible amount of support from his former teammates “I was pretty surprised because people from my new team and my old team were donating.” The money has continued to pour in at a record rate this season.
This year Jacen’s U14 Mississauga Rattlers split their goaltending duties so he’s not seen as much rubber as many of the other net minders in the challenge but he’s lucked out in a sense because a lot of his donations have been lump sums.
Over 5 games this month he managed a very respectable 108 saves, including a 40 performance against the Streetsville Tigers on October 20th.
Last year Jacen was supposed to make an appearance on Hockey Night in Canada with Ron MacLean and Tara Sloane but Covid-19 Regulations made getting into the studio a bridge to far, but he was honoured with a shout out on air.
He's hoping that this year he'll be able to get in studio, with some luck.
If you would like to donate to Jacen’s campaign follow this link. October Saves Donations