Edward Nicol-McCabe, aka Sapsterr, is a 22-year-old competitive player from Surrey, B.C. The 2022 NHL Gaming World Championship Top 8 Finalist shares his experiences being a Youth in Care, battling cancer, and breaking narratives.
Edward has his reasons for playing NHL competitively. The NHL 22 top 8 finalist in the Gaming World Championship shares that through this kind of competition, he proves that Youth in Care can accomplish things they want because they are capable.
"There is a bias that fosters kids to be damaged goods. I have strived to break the narrative, to be an inspiration for Youth in Care. Some things are hard to understand, but doing this (NHL) could inspire Youth in Care that they can accomplish whatever they want."
Edward, he did not have a normal childhood. Triailed by challenges and tribulations, his upbringing involved navigating the foster care system. However, he shares that his experiences have equipped him for what he does now, whether work or NHL related.
Secondly, Edward suffered a knee injury at 14, but gaming has been a way for him to remain connected to the game.
Edward shares, "The fact is I keep working at it. It would have been easy to pack it up and not work on my game. Now I am here and will do better because I want to inspire Youth in Care not to be afraid to go after what they want.
Most recently, Edward shared that he is battling stage 1 lung cancer.
"From my perspective, 641 Canadians per day are diagnosed with cancer. I just happened to be 1 of the 641 on that given day. Do I feel tired and lethargic right now? Yes. Was I scared when I heard the word cancer? Yes. However, life has thrown me many curveballs, and when you go through that cycle of uncertainty, you eventually learn what you can rely on to make sure you do not take yourself out mentally. I have a good care system. I am confident in my recovery."
Edward's resilience and discipline to navigate any challenges are inspiring. Furthermore, Edward proves that regardless of these challenges, nothing will get in the way of his passion for competitive CHEL and his desire to help others succeed.
Edward says, "When it comes to NHL 24, I'm excited to continue my content creation and competitive gaming journey. With my health, I have been given a lot more time to stay at home, and I've been working on my photo and video editing skills to produce content that teaches people and gets them thinking about their gameplay on more than a base level. This game-like life is 90% mental, so hopefully, I can help people break down whatever mental barriers are keeping them from achieving their goals in this game."