Nicklas Backstrom had a request for the Flyers ahead of Wednesday Night Rivalry game in Philadelphia, PA: Might he have a few t-shirts?
Backstrom and teammate and fellow Swede Carl Hagelin received and donned black shirts with purple text bearing the number 23 and the words “Oskar Strong.”
23-year-old Flyers’ forward Oskar Lindblom was diagnosed with an extremely rare form of cancer, Ewing sarcoma, in December 2019. He’s expected to miss the remainder of the season.
Flyers’ beat reporter Dave Isaac shared the behind-the-scene information and the fact that former NHL player and cancer survivor Eddie Olczyk got a shirt of his own.
Washington Capitals center Nicklas Bäckström requested a few #OskarStrong shirts for himself and teammates. The South Jersey businesswomen behind the t-shirt movement, Kim Parent (left) and Jodi Smith (right) also presented one to cancer survivor Eddie Olczyk. pic.twitter.com/zM9KEO7dvD
— Dave Isaac (@davegisaac) January 8, 2020
The shirts were presented to the players from Biscuit Tees, which had raised over $50,000 as of December.
The boys look great in our tees!! Let’s keep raising money and fighting with Oskar!! We have hit $50,000 to donate to #hockeyfightscancer @NHLFlyers #OskarStrong https://t.co/4IftTyFnWw pic.twitter.com/QAJLhNF2Yr
— Biscuit Tees (@BiscuitTees) December 19, 2019
The T-shirts are sold out of women’s sizes but pre-sale is available for men’s sizes, with all of the proceeds going to Hockey Fights Cancer.
They look pretty dang good.
The Flyers organization, hockey fans around the world, and even rival teams have come together to show Lindblom their support.
The boys are #OskarStrong pic.twitter.com/j19PhvQPtM
— Wayne Simmonds (@Simmonds17) January 3, 2020
#Coyotes players have ordered #OskarStrong shirts to wear under their jerseys vs #Flyers on Sat. I have a feeling former Flyer Rick Tocchet, the Arizona coach, is behind it. #BiscuitTees pic.twitter.com/g6KI5xSHdu
— Sam Carchidi (@BroadStBull) January 3, 2020
Lindblom took to his Instagram to express his gratitude.
You can donate to Hockey Fights Cancer through the NHL’s website, or through SB Nation’s Broad Street Hockey, which has organized multiple ways to show your support–financially, or by sending pictures, messages, or letters, which the Flyers will deliver to Lindblom.
Full RMNB Coverage of Caps at Flyers
Headline photo: @Capitals
