By Rosalind Russell – A little guy with ties to Espanola is the poster child this year for the Fire & Ice Charity Hockey Game.
Get ready for the return of the Fire & Ice Charity Hockey Game in support of Northern Ontario Families of Children with Cancer (NOFCC) on Friday, January 30, at the Sudbury Arena.
Gino, the grandson of Larry Leclair of Espanola, is the poster child for the event.
He was diagnosed at two years old and went into remission in November of last year.
He’s looking forward to the game.
Doors open at 5:30 p.m., with puck drop at 6:30 p.m. sharp.
In 2025, more than $32,000 was donated to the NOFCC with 100% of proceeds going directly to support families navigating childhood cancer.
His mother, Ashley Germain, shared his story with us.
Initially, Gino was diagnosed with a lung infection and was not improving with the prescribed treatment. Watching him decline and become sicker was incredibly difficult; we were in survival mode before the official diagnosis.
Once doctors confirmed the cancer, we were able to begin treatment to save his life.
The medical team was optimistic that they had the right protocol and expertise – and they were right. Gino has been in remission since November 2025.
When treatment began, Brad and I had tunnel vision on our son.
We were admitted to SickKids for two and a half months, focusing only on Gino and barely managing our own basic needs. Everything else, our home in Sudbury, our routines, our lives – went on the back burner until we could deal with it later.
Having a child with cancer is an unimaginable challenge. Your hopes and dreams for your child change in ways you never expect, and the life you envisioned as a parent no longer feels realistic. What many don’t realize is how expensive this journey is.
When your child is critically ill, you want them near paediatric specialists. Only one parent is allowed to stay overnight at the hospital, and because Gino was too young to be left alone, a second support person was essential – adding to the costs.
Hotels (with Ronald McDonald House often having a waitlist), meals, travel, parking, medications not always covered by insurance, and maintaining two households while one parent is off work and the other works only when Gino is well enough – it all adds up quickly.
Within days of sharing Gino’s diagnosis publicly on Facebook, Northern Ontario Families of Children with Cancer (NOFCC) reached out to offer financial support. They provided an initial $3,000 for families with newly diagnosed children and additional funds for appointments related to treatment, helping offset some of the overwhelming costs.
NOFCC feels like family. They are real people rooting for us and supporting us through this difficult time.
They truly understand the barriers families in Northern Ontario face when traveling for treatment. With me (mom) off work indefinitely and Brad doing his best to balance work and home, NOFCC’s support helped us manage everyday expenses and medical costs along the way. Their assistance gave us breathing room and eased the financial burden during a time when we needed it most.
This year’s game will see city police officers face off against local firefighters with intermissions featuring youth hockey showcases, a puck-toss and a t-shirt toss to a shoot-to-win contest to win a car, 50/50 draw, silent auction and even facepainting for the kids.
Photos: Gino wears bravery beads to mark his journey with cancer. Gino and his bravery beads. Each bead represents a procedure while undergoing treatment – a necklace of courage that tells the story of his fight and resilience. He loved his visit with the Greater Sudbury Police and Fire Departments. Photos provided by GSPS
Submit News Tip
