11 Day Power Play
Joe Hartman
Joe Hartman
My journey with The 11 Day Power Play is rooted in two distinct, yet connected, family experiences that have forever changed my perspective on hockey and giving back.
My first time experiencing the event was triggered by my dad, Dennis Hartman, when he was diagnosed with Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Even after receiving that news, his first thought was, "I'm not going to miss out on my Friday skate." That incredible resolve instantly inspired me to get back on the ice after stepping away from hockey for three or four years. My passion returned immediately, and now, just like him, I'm a regular at that Friday skate. If he was going to go through radiation, and chemo and still play I didn't really feel there was much of an excuse for me not to be there with him every week.
This personal history has now been compounded by a recent and profound loss that serves as the immediate catalyst for my need to play in a shift this year. This past October, my wife and I were blessed with our son, Keegan, on the 14th-just a few days earlier than we had originally planned. This decision was so that Donna could hold her newest grandchild in her arms she was in a terrible battle with ovarian cancer, we accomplished getting him into her arms but, a few days later Donna lost her battle which has left this family shaken, and trying to learn a new way of living.
Donna and her husband, Scott, are passionate fans of all things Buffalo, but Donna had a special love for hockey. She always said she knew my son Tage was going to be a hockey guy and she was right I spend countless hours with my son at rinks, tennis courts, basketball courts to play street hockey, watching the Sabres, teaching him about the game i have grown to love so much. I felt the best way I could honor her memory, while channeling the deep grief and love we feel, was to step up do some more charity work beyond just the Ride for Roswell.
Finally, this is my chance to show my sons that its important to give back. My own father has done extensive cancer fundraising work in our city, and that commitment to service has always had a profound impact on me. By doing this shift, I want to show my boys that giving back is an essential thing you should do-whether it's through a donation or simply committing to three hours of ice time to support a critical cause. This Power Play shift is about honoring my past, navigating my present, and setting an example for the future.
Please support me to #PutCancerOnIce. Proceeds of the event will support cutting-edge research and wellness programs at Roswell Park, Make-A-Wish WNY, Camp Good Days, Roswell Park and Oishei Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Program and The Petey Fund.
Check out 11daypowerplay.com for more information.
Checks can be made payable to
The 11 Day Power Play.
PO. Box 4
Buffalo, NY 14223
Together, we can make a difference in the fight against cancer!
My first time experiencing the event was triggered by my dad, Dennis Hartman, when he was diagnosed with Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Even after receiving that news, his first thought was, "I'm not going to miss out on my Friday skate." That incredible resolve instantly inspired me to get back on the ice after stepping away from hockey for three or four years. My passion returned immediately, and now, just like him, I'm a regular at that Friday skate. If he was going to go through radiation, and chemo and still play I didn't really feel there was much of an excuse for me not to be there with him every week.
This personal history has now been compounded by a recent and profound loss that serves as the immediate catalyst for my need to play in a shift this year. This past October, my wife and I were blessed with our son, Keegan, on the 14th-just a few days earlier than we had originally planned. This decision was so that Donna could hold her newest grandchild in her arms she was in a terrible battle with ovarian cancer, we accomplished getting him into her arms but, a few days later Donna lost her battle which has left this family shaken, and trying to learn a new way of living.
Donna and her husband, Scott, are passionate fans of all things Buffalo, but Donna had a special love for hockey. She always said she knew my son Tage was going to be a hockey guy and she was right I spend countless hours with my son at rinks, tennis courts, basketball courts to play street hockey, watching the Sabres, teaching him about the game i have grown to love so much. I felt the best way I could honor her memory, while channeling the deep grief and love we feel, was to step up do some more charity work beyond just the Ride for Roswell.
Finally, this is my chance to show my sons that its important to give back. My own father has done extensive cancer fundraising work in our city, and that commitment to service has always had a profound impact on me. By doing this shift, I want to show my boys that giving back is an essential thing you should do-whether it's through a donation or simply committing to three hours of ice time to support a critical cause. This Power Play shift is about honoring my past, navigating my present, and setting an example for the future.
Please support me to #PutCancerOnIce. Proceeds of the event will support cutting-edge research and wellness programs at Roswell Park, Make-A-Wish WNY, Camp Good Days, Roswell Park and Oishei Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Program and The Petey Fund.
Check out 11daypowerplay.com for more information.
Checks can be made payable to
The 11 Day Power Play.
PO. Box 4
Buffalo, NY 14223
Together, we can make a difference in the fight against cancer!
2.png)
Comments