OTTAWA, ON – NOVEMBER 5: On Hockey Fights Cancer night, Craig Anderson #41 of the Ottawa Senators wears the number 23 on his lavender jersey during warmup in honor of his wife, Nicholle Anderson (23 is her favorite number), who was recently diagnosed with cancer, prior to a game against the Buffalo Sabres at Canadian Tire Centre on November 5, 2016 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Andre Ringuette/NHLI via Getty Images) Saturday in Ottawa was Hockey Fights Cancer night for the Senators, an organization that is all too familiar with the disease.
Senior adviser and former GM Bryan Murray was diagnosed with terminal colon cancer in 2014. PA announcer Stu Schwartz, who helped dropped the ceremonial puck before Saturday’s game, has battled leukemia. And most recently, goaltender Craig Anderson has had to leave the team twice in the last two weeks to be with his wife, Nicholle, who was recently diagnosed with the disease.
The Senators did their part in support for Nicholle by wearing “Stick by Nik” helmet stickers and filling out “I Fight For” signs before the game.
This is the helmet sticker that will be worn by the #Sens tonight. #StickByNik #HockeyFightsCancer pic.twitter.com/CepanKJxfQ
— Sens communications (@Media_Sens) November 5, 2016
Tonight we play for Nicholle, Bryan, Stu and all of the people and families fighting cancer around the world. #hockeyfightscancer pic.twitter.com/jqB2kku0kA
— Chris Wideman (@Chris_Wideman) November 5, 2016
During warm-ups, Anderson’s lavender Hockey Fights Cancer jersey had No. 23 on the back, not his normal No. 41. The reason? Twenty-three is Nicholle’s favorite number.
Craig Anderson is wearing #23 during tonight's warm-up for his wife Nicholle. It's her favourite number. #HockeyFightsCancer pic.twitter.com/JcDDgtdWGF
— Ottawa Senators (@Senators) November 5, 2016
The Senators would fall 2-1 to the Buffalo Sabres. While the team is off to a good start, Anderson has been well of late, especially since the news of Nicholle’s diagnosis was revealed.

“He’s a strong person — him and Nicholle both, and their two boys,” said Senators defenseman Mark Borowiecki via the Ottawa Citizen. “I can’t even imagine some of the emotions that he’s feeling and what him and his family have to go through on a day-to-day basis.
“For him to show the kind of commitment he’s not only shown to our team, but to his wife, it’s pretty special to see. It’s a testament to him as a person.”
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Sean Leahy is the associate editor for Puck Daddy on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Sean_Leahy