Huskies, Blades do Their Part to Battle Cancer

Every segment of society is forced to battle cancer. It has struck close to home for members of Owatonna's hockey and basketball communities.

2013 Owatonna graduate and former captain of the Huskies' hockey team Matt Ratzloff was diagnosed with a form of leukemia last week. The Owatonna Blue Line Club will donate their portion of the 50/50 drawing at the remaining home games to Ratzloff Strong Relief. There is a Go Fund Me account set up for him as well.

The Steele County Blades hold their Stick it to Cancer night Friday night during Federated Insurance night at Four Seasons Centre in Owatonna. Various fundraising activities will be going on. Previously some of the money raised has gone to the family of Blades' player Chase Lewis, whose sister is battling cancer. Lewis himself is a cancer survivor. Other money raised has gone to local families and to the From the Heart cancer fundraiser.

OHS girls' hockey held its cancer fundraising night January 28. Players were introduced along with the name of someone they were skating in honor or in memory of. It was quite a moving time with the lights down low and the announcement of each person while the players skated to center ice to put a flower and a balloon into vases. Money raised will go to From the Heart. Owatonna girls' basketball raised about $2,500 to donate to the Steele County Relay for Life. OHS boys' basketball raised over $2,600 that they donated to the American Cancer Society in the name of the Larson family. The father of a player in the Owatonna program is dealing with cancer.