Wesleyan Men's Hockey Drafts 9-Year-Old Connor from Team IMPACT

2017 Feb 17

Martin Rubin took a leadership role with the Wesleyan Men's Ice Hockey Team in drafting 9-year-old Connor Albert from Team IMPACT, whose focus is to improve the quality of life for children facing life-threatening and chronic illnesses through the power of team. Connor was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma in April 2016.

Connor's health issues started in January 2016 when a small limp continued to get worse. One day, while playing basketball, Connor fell on his hip and the pain increased drastically. Doctors found a tumor in his hip, which they thought was benign, until four different biopsies concluded it was bone cancer. He underwent hip replacement surgery in the fall and is still recovering from it, and is doing very well. He uses a walker or crutches to get around, and has chemo treatments that are week long stays in the hospital. He is also doing regular physical therapy.

Partnering with Team IMPACT, whose focus is to improve the quality of life for children facing life-threatening and chronic illnesses through the power of team, the Cardinals made Connor a part of theirs this month.

Prior to his arrival on campus, several members of the team, including Rubin, visited Connor in the hospital.

On Jan. 20, Head Coach Chris Potter and the team welcomed Connor to the locker room where he received a contract, a Wesleyan jersey, a hockey stick signed by the team, and a locker stall with his name on it as he was officially welcomed to the squad prior to the Cardinals' game against Connecticut College.