Islanders Captain Anders Lee, Teammates & Fans Kick Kancer In The Kan At Fifth Annual Jam Kancer Event

Anders Lee's sixth annual Jam Kancer in a Kan event was a success.

On Saturday, New York Islanders captain Anders Lee, his teammates, and fans kicked kancer in the kan, one frisbee throw at a time at his fifth annual Jam Kancer event.

For the second straight year, the event was held at Northwell Ice Center, the Islanders practice facility in East Meadow.

Due to his work in the community, Lee was the recipient of the 2024 King Clancy Memorial Cup, which was on hand at the event.

The award is given to the player “who best exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice and has made a noteworthy humanitarian contribution in his community.”

"That was a very special award that I share with the people that have inspired me," Lee told The Hockey News. "I share it with my teammates, the ones that have supported me on this whole event side of things.

"It was cool to have its presence, for sure, and it was kind of a good way to look at it, in terms of everyone that was here today, whether they were donors or supporters or my teammates, people that helped us get there, they got a chance to see it because they're the reason that was really able to happen from my side of things."

The event had a goal of raising 200,000, a goal that they expect to accomplish when the final count comes in.

Through six years of the event, Lee has helped raise north of $2.7 million.

Stick taps to that. 

Lee, a 12-year NHL veteran, is used to meeting fans, whether at games or in the community. But an event like Jam Kancer provides a different and unique opportunity to mingle with the Islanders faithful.

"Today's an intimate day," Lee said. "We get to hang out in a special setting with these kids and these families and spend time with them. We get to play a game with them and compete with them. It's all in good fun. 

"Those experiences are the ones that we get to walk away with, ones that they get to walk away with, too. So it's just a pretty special afternoon."

The Islanders locker room is a family, and that family showed up for Lee on Saturday.

"Oh, it's amazing. These guys, I'm telling you, they work extremely hard to get to where they're at, and then they come out here to spend their last Saturday afternoon with us to do some good in the community speaks volumes about them and their character, who they are the pride they take in being Islanders, the pride that we all take together," Lee said.

Not only did the NHLers come down, but some prospects also came straight from rookie camp to participate in the tremendous fundraiser.

"It's great. I see them on the ice and ask them to come out if they want to, and it's on their end to follow through. But of course, they love it," Lee said. "I think it's a great way to get the guys together in a lighthearted manner before the season starts. At the same time, do some do something really special within the community. 

"So leading up to the event, I get to see the boys, have them out, and invite them out. And it's pretty special when they come."

For the first time ever, Lee actually won the Kan Jam tournament alongside his partner Carsyn Volpe, a brave 15-year-old in his third battle against Neuroblastoma, and his dad Al.

Here's a video of the winning shot and then the trophy presentation:

While Lee's efforts to raise money for cancer-affected families are tremendous, he's not the only one on the Islanders making a difference in the community. 

The Matt Martin Foundation does tremendous work for the Wounded Warriors Project and many other charities, while the Kyle Palmieri Foundation works to raise money for military non-profits. 

Those are just a few examples of how the Islanders do what they can to help make a difference.

"That's the thing. I'm not the only one doing something on our team," Lee said. "Our guys are very special in terms of what they want to do in the community, and some causes that mean a lot to them.

"It's a testament to them as well, but also a testament to, I think, the foundation that was led in this organization, from players prior to us. There's a lot of good people that have come through this team that have done a lot of good work on Long Island."

For more information, visit www.jamkancerinthekan.com.