For over three years, Montreal Canadiens forward Brendan Gallagher paid tribute to his mother, Della, during her battle with brain cancer, particularly during the NHL`s Hockey Fights Cancer events. In 2022, Gallagher wore a purple Canadiens jersey in warmups with a patch that read: `I Fight For Mom.`
Canadiens supporter Lucie Lachance won that jersey at a 2022 auction benefiting the Canadiens` Children`s Foundation. Gallagher`s Hockey Fights Cancer jersey became a unique memento, marking the last season NHL players could wear special jerseys for warmups.
Della Gallagher was initially given a prognosis of six to 18 months after being diagnosed with Stage 4 brain cancer in August 2021. She bravely exceeded expectations, living for 3½ years before passing away on March 8.
`I`m incredibly proud of her strength and courage. Truly the best mom,` Brendan Gallagher shared. `Ultimately, it`s the memories you hold dear.`
Upon learning about Gallagher`s mother`s passing, Lachance felt compelled to act.
`Looking at the jersey, I knew it wasn`t mine anymore; it belonged to him,` she recounted in a TVA Sports interview.
Lachance contacted Gallagher via social media on Thursday, writing,
`I believe this jersey should be yours. You wore it in the 2022 warm-up before they stopped the practice. It`s very special, just like your mom was. If you`d like it, it`s yours to keep as a memory!`
To her surprise, Gallagher responded and accepted her generous offer.
`That is incredibly kind, thoughtful, and truly appreciated!` he replied, proposing a jersey swap with Lachance on the ice after the Canadiens` April 16 game against the Carolina Hurricanes, continuing a postgame tradition after their final regular-season home game.
Lachance, lacking tickets for the game, was gifted two tickets by the Canadiens for the regular-season finale.
`I`m overwhelmed with positivity during a difficult time,` Lachance expressed.
Gallagher, whose newborn daughter`s middle names honor both grandmothers, affirmed he will always cherish his mother`s memory.
`Everything I am comes from her. Our bond was special. She will be deeply missed, but she remains with us daily. Not a day will pass without thinking of her,` he stated.
This sentiment was evident Tuesday night following the Canadiens` victory over the Ottawa Senators. Gallagher scored an empty-net goal in the 6-3 win, his first since his mother`s passing. He tapped his chest and looked heavenward after scoring.
`It immediately struck me that I couldn`t call or talk to her about it,` he reflected.
However, being on the ice with his teammates during Montreal`s unexpected playoff contention has aided Gallagher in processing his grief.
`Hockey is my sanctuary,` Gallagher concluded. `On the ice, everything else fades away.`
