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Oliver Ekman-Larsson switches spots with 8-year-old fighting cancer during ceremonial faceoff

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Before all the ugly face-punching and line brawling, the Arizona Coyotes and Calgary Flames authored one of the most beautiful moments of the hockey season during the game’s ceremonial faceoff.

Eight-year-old hockey player, Leighton Accardo, was given the honor to drop the first puck, but Coyotes captain Oliver Ekman-Larsson decided to flip the script. Leighton, who is fighting cancer, was signed to a one-day contract by Coyotes management on the day of the game.

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Ekman-Larsson asked Accardo if she would swap spots with him and dropped the ceremonial first puck between her and Flames’ captain Mark Giordano. Giordano let her win the faceoff too. 😭😭😭

There are several layers here that make this moment so sweet.

  • The gesture appears to be a surprise
  • Leighton is a female hockey player and the male players make her their equal
  • Leighton’s bald head makes it clear how hard her fight has been

According to Leighton’s mom Carly, doctors discovered a large mass in Leighton’s abdomen that had spread to her liver and her lungs. The tumor in her abdomen also invaded her left sciatic nerve and paralyzed her left foot. She can’t lift her foot or move her toes.

Leighton has been undergoing chemotherapy at Phoenix Children’s Hospital since her diagnosis and she goes in for chemo every two weeks.

The Coyotes and Bauer recently created a custom skate for that foot that has velcro latches so Leighton can still play hockey.

But the entire day was cute, not just the faceoff. In the morning, the Coyotes signed Leighton to a one-day contract.

Leighton arrived to the arena as the players do, and rocked a Coyotes jersey.

Ahead of the start of the game, Leighton asked the players to rub her bald head for good luck. Derek Stepan, who also has a shaved head, put his head against her, causing Leighton to burst out laughing.

Leighton joined the players out on the ice during warmups.

And stood with the players during the national anthem.

After the Coyotes won 3-0, Leighton was announced as first star of the night and skated out onto the ice. Ekman-Larsson joined her. 😭😭😭

Leighton gave high fives to all the players afterward.

Leighton was awarded the “game pelt” at the end as the player of the game.

So sweet.

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