What do you think?
Rate this book
Putting Cancer on Ice: A Journey in Charity, Friendship, and Hockey
32 hockey games. 32 cities. 5- plus years. Over 42,000 miles traveled. 1 amazing adventure.
In October 2018, I set out with a simple goal of seeing a hockey game in all 32 cities in the National Hockey League. Inspired my my grandmother Leona Dotson’s incredible life and successful battles against cancer, I turned my hockey journey into a charitable crusade, raising money for two wonderful organizations.
From 2018 to 2022, I raised over $10,000 for the National Hockey League’s “Hockey Fights Cancer” initiative, which supports families fighting cancer by providing meals, lodging, and transportation for those in need. Since 2022, I’ve also been fortunate to support the 11 Day Power Play in Buffalo, New York, which raises money for cancer research and patient support services for four wonderful organizations in Western New York.
100% of my proceeds from the sale of this book will go directly to Hockey Fights Cancer and the 11 Day Power Play. But I hope that this book will also inform you, entertain you, make you laugh, cry, and think. I hope that you’ll learn some of the valuable lessons I learned along the way. Together, we can Put Cancer On Ice!
In October 2018, I set out with a simple goal of seeing a hockey game in all 32 cities in the National Hockey League. Inspired my my grandmother Leona Dotson’s incredible life and successful battles against cancer, I turned my hockey journey into a charitable crusade, raising money for two wonderful organizations.
From 2018 to 2022, I raised over $10,000 for the National Hockey League’s “Hockey Fights Cancer” initiative, which supports families fighting cancer by providing meals, lodging, and transportation for those in need. Since 2022, I’ve also been fortunate to support the 11 Day Power Play in Buffalo, New York, which raises money for cancer research and patient support services for four wonderful organizations in Western New York.
100% of my proceeds from the sale of this book will go directly to Hockey Fights Cancer and the 11 Day Power Play. But I hope that this book will also inform you, entertain you, make you laugh, cry, and think. I hope that you’ll learn some of the valuable lessons I learned along the way. Together, we can Put Cancer On Ice!
226 pages, Paperback
Published November 27, 2023
1 person is currently reading
1 person want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
December 6, 2025
Denis’ story is a truly inspiring tale of using a personal tragedy not only to make a difference in the world, but also to find inner joy and a passion for living.
The fundraising aspect of Denis’ journey is obviously important and impactful, but I was more so moved by the tales of friendship, gratitude, and adventure in every chapter. For sports fans there is plenty of cool team lore and exhilarating in-game moments to smile about, but for a non-hockey fan like myself, it was the joy in reading the twist and turns in his journey that made this book special.
That and this book is TEEMING with Denis’ snarky, quippy, corny, and funny personality. As a friend and colleague of his, I couldn’t help but laugh at the ways he weaved in his catchphrases and stream-of-consciousness asides, and couldn’t help but read it in his voice.
Especially on pg. 27 when he makes a comment about how ‘some teams’ could benefit from coaches making more…shall we say ‘tactical’…decisions about when to use timeouts. As a fellow Tar Heel, it will forever be my only complaint about the icon and legend that is Roy Williams.
All in all, Denis’ journey was a wonderfully inspirational tale that is a fun and easy rainy day read to make you feel good and smile. I think the best way to sum it up is to pull right from his emotional epilogue,
“My journey has been an experience so unique and so satisfying that I wouldn’t trade it for anything…and to help others and feel good doing it…was simply a perfect combination”
Also, f*ck cancer.
10/10
The fundraising aspect of Denis’ journey is obviously important and impactful, but I was more so moved by the tales of friendship, gratitude, and adventure in every chapter. For sports fans there is plenty of cool team lore and exhilarating in-game moments to smile about, but for a non-hockey fan like myself, it was the joy in reading the twist and turns in his journey that made this book special.
That and this book is TEEMING with Denis’ snarky, quippy, corny, and funny personality. As a friend and colleague of his, I couldn’t help but laugh at the ways he weaved in his catchphrases and stream-of-consciousness asides, and couldn’t help but read it in his voice.
Especially on pg. 27 when he makes a comment about how ‘some teams’ could benefit from coaches making more…shall we say ‘tactical’…decisions about when to use timeouts. As a fellow Tar Heel, it will forever be my only complaint about the icon and legend that is Roy Williams.
All in all, Denis’ journey was a wonderfully inspirational tale that is a fun and easy rainy day read to make you feel good and smile. I think the best way to sum it up is to pull right from his emotional epilogue,
“My journey has been an experience so unique and so satisfying that I wouldn’t trade it for anything…and to help others and feel good doing it…was simply a perfect combination”
Also, f*ck cancer.
10/10
November 12, 2025
I couldn't relate to most of the details about hockey, but Denis is a very engaging writer and he really helped you get to know the people in this narrative and their wonderful friendships! (I know some of his friends, which was really cool.) A beautiful tribute to Denis' love for his grandmother!
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews