12-Year Old Cancer Survivor Designs Devils Blackwood's Mask

NEWARK, NJ – When the New Jersey Devils hit the ice for their pre-game warm-ups on Sunday evening, they were donning lavender-colored jerseys, as they usually do on Hockey Fights Cancer Night.

This year, there was one piece of equipment that deserved a little extra attention. Devils' goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood could be seen brushing aside saves in a vibrant, beach-themed hockey mask before the game.

What made this helmet so special was the person behind the design.

That's because Lucas Files, a 12-year-old cancer survivor from Manahawkin, NJ, inspired the custom goalie mask, which featured some of his favorite activities while recognizing his hometown community just outside of Long Beach Island.

"I was really blown away (with the design)," Blackwood said in his virtual conversation with Lucas before the game. "I never had a cool helmet like that and I'm excited to wear it."

The left side of the mask depicted a surfer, and the opposite side featured a bowling ball and pins under a palm tree. Front and center on the chin of the mask featured the Hockey Fights Cancer insignia with a sand-colored backdrop that had the Devils' iconic team logo engrained on the edges.

Of course, the helmet wouldn't have been complete without Lucas's name somewhere on it, which was highlighted across the back of the mask in a bold blue font with a sunrise in the framework, symbolic of a new beginning.

"When I started thinking about the design, I wanted to make sure that it had all my favorite activities on it," Lucas explained while reciting the importance of each component. "It was just so cool to see my favorite player wear a mask that I helped design."

Lucas also participated in a ceremonial puck drop featuring Devils captain Nico Hischier and fellow cancer survivor Flyers forward Oskar Lindblom, who is two years in remission from a rare type of bone cancer called Ewing's sarcoma.

"It was very motivating hearing all the fans cheer me on," Lucas recalled in an interview with Patch.com during the first intermission. "All the players were so supportive of me and that really made me feel special."

Now three years in remission from Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL), Lucas completed three and a half years of treatment at Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey and Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in December 2018.

"You go through something so terrible in your life and then to be given an opportunity like this is a bright spot after such a dark time," said Lucas's mother Jennifer Files. "It's amazing to be treated so great by the Devils organization and Robert Wood Johnson."

The fight against cancer is what has brought the Files Family closer, and it is that support system Jennifer says helped get everyone through the challenges.

"Hockey Fights Cancer is such an amazing initiative and (the Devils organization) has treated him like a king tonight. It's been so much fun."

If Lucas's story isn't inspiring enough, he left us with the following message after enduring three and a half years of grueling treatment:

"For anyone who is fighting cancer, just keep battling," he urged.

The Devils also honored Christian Koncewicz, a 9-year-old from Middletown, New Jersey, who was recognized as a special Hero Among Us during Hockey Fights Cancer Night. He was diagnosed with Leukemia this past April and is currently undergoing treatment at Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey and Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital.

The Mystery Puck sale featuring player-autographed Hockey Fights Cancer pucks was once again a popular attraction as well as the Love Your Melon beanie merchandise. Both items, in tandem, raised funds that will go towards The Cancer Center at Saint Barnabas Medical Center, an RWJBarnabas Health facility.

Earlier this week the Devils and RWJBarnabas Health dedicated the renovation of Clara Maass Medical Center's Infusion Center to former Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment employee Dean Brzuskiewicz, who passed away after from a courageous battle with cancer in 2020. The Devils donated proceeds from last season's Hockey Fights Cancer Night in Dean's name to benefit the renovation, which will provide cancer patients with the amenities needed to help them through their treatments while at Clara Maass.

Fans will also have the opportunity to bid on the Devils' Hockey Fights Cancer warm-up jerseys and locker room nameplates. The auction will run through December 8 and fans will be able to place their bid at newjerseydevils.com/HFC.