The Toronto Maple Leafs held their final practice of their regular season opener. Fraser Minten and Noah Gregor earn spots in the opening-night lineup. The Toronto Maple Leafs took to social media to share who they are playing for as part of their annual 'Hockey Fights Cancer' game. Maple Leafs defenseman TJ Brodie held a sign stating that he's fighting for his father, Jay, who passed away after a battle with cancer [https://lfpress.com/sports/local-sports/toronto-maple-leafs-dad-himself-a-local-sports-legend-mourned] in September. Mitch Marner, Auston Matthews and John Tavares held up signs as they fight for Rodion Amirov, the Maple Leafs prospect who passed away in August after a hard-fought battle with cancer. Amirov, Toronto's first-round pick (15th) overall in the 2020 NHL Draft, died at age 21 after a brain tumor was revealed in February of 2022. In addition, Marner also honored Hayden Foulin, who bravely faced acute lymphoblastic leukemia at the age of 22 months. She crossed paths with Marner during the player's visit to the Children's Hospital at the London Health Sciences Centre in 2015 while he was playing for the London Knights. Their bond quickly deepened, and in November 2018, Marner affectionately referred to Hayden as his "hero." Just four months later, he he treated Hayden and her family to a Maple Leafs game in celebration of her seventh birthday, culminating with a special cake. On October 20, 2019, Hayden succumbed to her battle with cancer. "I haven't taken the bracelet off since she gave it to me," Marner told Mike Zeisberger of NHL.com [https://www.nhl.com/news/mitchell-marner-building-legacy-for-toronto-maple-leafs-340606714] in February. "It's a reminder that you can make a difference in life. It was hard to see her go through her ups and downs. It's devastating to think she's gone, but when you can make someone smile -- and we had lots of them -- it's priceless." Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjAwNTk1MTUxMDE2NDM2ODQ0/cf1808c0-6a82-4298-9049-3eb2eae105b0.jpg] Related 'People Can Perceive That However They Want, I’m Not Going To Explain Myself': Maple Leafs' Tyler Bertuzzi Addresses Reaction to Bruins' Brad Marchand, Vows to Play Better [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/latest-news/people-can-perceive-that-however-they-want-im-not-going-to-explain-myself-maple-leafs-tyler-bertuzzi-addresses-reaction-to-bruins-brad-marchand-vows-to-play-better] Maple Leafs' Ryan Reaves Explains Lack of Response in Brad Marchand Trip of Timothy Liljegren: 'It'll Be Changed Going Forward' [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/latest-news/maple-leafs-ryan-reaves-explains-lack-of-response-in-brad-marchand-trip-of-timothy-liljegren-itll-be-changed-going-forward] Why the Maple Leafs Called Up Simon Benoit and Max Lajoie From the Marlies Ahead of Their Game Against Sabres [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/latest-news/why-the-maple-leafs-called-up-simon-benoit-and-max-lajoie-from-the-marlies-ahead-of-their-game-against-sabres] News from THN.com What's on the Plate of Senators Interim GM Steve Staios? [https://thehockeynews.com/news/whats-on-the-plate-of-senators-interim-gm-steve-staios] Screen Shots: Ottawa Senators, Lane Hinkley, Ryan O'Reilly [https://thehockeynews.com/news/screen-shots-ottawa-senators-lane-hinkley-ryan-oreilly] THN On The 'Q': QMJHL Players to Watch and Alumni with Red Wings [https://thehockeynews.com/podcast/thn-on-the-q-qmjhl-players-to-watch-and-alumni-with-red-wings]
