On Sunday night, Capitals forward André Burakovsky posted a photo on Instagram of a youth hockey player. He did so because he faced a tragic loss.
14-year-old Oliver Mattsson, son of former Tre Kronor and AHL player Jesper Mattsson, passed away.
Burakovsky and Jesper Mattsson played together during Andre’s rookie season in 2011-12 with the Malmö Redhawks.
“Today i heard the news that you have left us,” Burakovsky wrote. “No kids should never go through what you have been through. You have been in my mind since day one when your dad called me and told me that you were sick. I know that you have been fighting and been unbelievable strong and positive for a long time. When I heard the news it broke my heart. You will be missed and loved. Rest In Peace brother. You are the most beautiful angel up there.”
Last year, Oliver was diagnosed with a rare disease, aplastic anemia, the same condition that took the life of Eleanor Roosevelt. Oliver began treatment last summer, but needed a stem-cell transplant to survive. The search for a proper donor was extensive, but no match was found. Sunday night, Oliver Mattsson passed away.
Mattsson was a youth player for Malmö Redhawks. On March 6th, he participated in theceremonial puck drop ahead of the game between Malmö and Färjestad.
During his battle, numerous hockeyplayers from both Sweden and the NHL sent him videos, wishing him well, including Capitals players captain Alex Ovechkin, TJ Oshie, Tom Wilson, and Nicklas Bäckström.
Other hockey legends like Nicklas Lidström, Peter Forsberg, and former Capital Calle Johansson sent videos as well as Usain Bolt and soccer player Caroline Seger of the Swedish national team.
