December 13th, 2019, was a melancholy day for the city of Philadelphia and the entire hockey community. On that Friday, it was revealed that Philadelphia Flyers forward Oskar Lindblom had been diagnosed with Ewing’s Sarcoma two days prior by leading doctors at the University of Pennsylvania. The team publicly announced the Swedish athlete’s unfortunate season-ending disease that evening.
Ewing’s Sarcoma is a form of cancer that develops in bones and the surrounding soft tissue. It is most common among teens and young adults, and it is also the second most frequently occurring form of bone cancer in children. However, this disease is a relatively rare form of cancer and can occur in any bone, typically expanding out from the pelvis, legs, or arms. After this cancer was discovered in Lindblom’s upper body, Flyers General Manager, Chuck Fletcher, disclosed to the public that he would be undergoing extensive testing and treatment in the subsequent weeks. Thankfully, Lindblom’s cancer was identified at an early stage, and he has a great chance of being cured.
With a strong start to his third season, Lindblom was tied as the Flyers leading scorer at the time of his diagnosis, with an impressive 11 goals and 7 assists in 30 games. His absence for the remainder of the season will bestow a burden upon the backs of other players to live up to his finesse and skill on the ice. The Flyers have been and will continue to be highly supportive of Oskar, standing by his side in every wind of the way. Chuck Fletcher, in his announcement about Lindblom’s condition, also stated that the organization wishes to see healthy as soon as this summer. The Flyers have started and continue to promote #OskarStrong on social media for fans to display their support.
The NHL as a whole has also been highly supportive of Lindblom throughout the process. Along with raising awareness of his unfortunate disease, the League has also promoted the purchasing of OskarStrong T-shirts, the proceeds of which go directly to Hockey Fights Cancer. The sales of these T-shirts have generated over $100,000 towards this cancer research charity.
Though this condition is undoubtedly difficult and unfortunate for Lindblom, it is truly a blessing that the state he is in is highly curable. Despite missing this season, Oskar Lindblom will likely be able to play by the time next season rolls around. Ultimately, obstacles and misfortunes are a part of life, and the determination and vigor of this young athlete will surely allow him to surpass these roadblocks to eventually continue a successful career.