By Islanders Hockey Club Staff
Evan Armit, a 2002-born forward from Dryden, Ontario, is a remarkable young man who has always embodied resilience and passion. He played junior hockey in the MJHL with the Winnipeg Freeze and in the NCDC/USPHL with the Islanders Hockey Club. Now in his second year at Worcester State University, Evan is a proud member of the Lancers and a dedicated Business student known for his academic achievements.
Evan’s incredible journey has taken an unexpected turn as he faces his toughest challenge yet: metastatic melanoma.
This journey began in June 2024 when Evan underwent surgery to remove a lesion from his left heel, which tested positive for melanoma. Though initial results were promising with clear margins, doctors recommended an additional surgery to ensure all cancerous cells were removed. In August 2024, Evan underwent a second procedure to widen the margins, and once again, results came back clear.
Despite these proactive measures, Evan faced further challenges. On October 18, he was admitted to UMass Hospital in Worcester for further treatment, spending three nights there. His parents, Brian and Jen, made the long trip, driving from Dryden to Thunder Bay and then flying to Boston on October 19 to be by his side. On October 21, Evan, Brian, and Jen returned to Thunder Bay, and just a day later, Evan was admitted to Thunder Bay Hospital, where he stayed for an additional 14 nights.
During this difficult period, Brian and Jen stayed in Thunder Bay facing even more significant expenses. These expenses include flights from Thunder Bay to Boston for Brian and Jen, return flights from Boston to Thunder Bay for the family, accommodations at Tamarack House, meals, and other associated costs related to nearly three weeks of living away from home.
Please Donate To The GoFundMe For The Armit Family:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-evan-armits-fight-against-cancer
Evan has shown immense strength throughout two surgeries and 19 days in the hospital between October and November. As he continues to fight and recover, we are rallying together to support Evan, Brian, Jen, and Sophie during this challenging time. Your contributions will help ease the financial burden on the family, allowing them to focus on Evan’s health and recovery.
“Evan joined IHC in his age out year and it didn’t take us long to realize that he’s exactly the kind of player we want representing the program. He is dedicated to improving his craft, competes hard on a daily basis and always has a team first attitude. Players like him have made IHC a very successful program and it’s no surprise to me he had a very successful freshman year at WSU,” said Jay Punsky, who is the Head Coach for both the Islanders Hockey Club Premier and Worcester State University NCAA teams.
“At Worcester, Evan immediately made himself an integral part of the community. He’s a resident advisor on campus and a big part of the culture in the locker room. After his diagnosis, he had to return home to seek treatment but has stayed in touch with his teammates. He has been very concerned with his teammates’ mental health and raising awareness for cancer research which speaks volumes about his character and team first mentality.”
We are united with Evan in this fight and will stand by his side, unwavering, every step of the way. Together, we believe in his strength and the power of this community to help him overcome this challenge. Thank you for standing with Evan and his family. Your generosity and support mean more than words can express.
