Leo is 10 years old.
On December 5, he learned he had bone cancer. Accompanied by his mother Julie, his father Stéphane and his sister Arielle, Léo fought bravely against the disease.
Since then, Léo has started chemotherapy treatments and spends a lot of time in the hospital. Leo is resilient, stubborn and, above all, determined to beat the disease.
In order to maintain his health, Léo no longer goes to school and can no longer play hockey. He misses the good times with his friends and is very sad that he can no longer practice his favorite sport.
Photo Felix Seguin
Despite his health issues, Léo still speaks about the Montreal Canadiens with the same passion. Leo knows all the players and all the statistics.
He particularly likes Cole Caufield. He is his favorite player. His dream was to meet No. 22 of the Canadiens. This happened Monday morning in Brossard.
Thanks to the great generosity of Geneviève Paquette (Vice President for Community Engagement) and Chantal Machabée (Vice President for Communications), Léo was a guest of the organization. Léo took part in training and visited the Canadian locker room. I was a privileged witness as I accompanied Léo that day along with my colleagues from TVA Sports.
“It’s impossible for me not to smile,” he told me as we watched practice together. Leo's happiness increased significantly when Caufield left the ice a few moments later to meet Leo and give him his stick.
The passing players also took the time to greet Léo. Samuel Montembeault and Jake Allen stopped to take a photo.
Photo Felix Seguin
Caufield then arranged to meet Léo in the dressing room. Caufield was waiting for him with captain Nick Suzuki. Caufield and Suzuki were generous with their time and chatted with Léo for a good fifteen minutes. They even invited Leo to visit the room where the team's bats are kept. Suzuki gave him his.
Photo Felix Seguin
In short, lucky, lucky. What luck for Leo!
“I don’t have the words to describe what I just experienced,” he told me emotionally at the end of his visit. “I'll take Cole and Nick's sticks with me to my hospital room when I get my treatments.”
Photo Felix Seguin
“He needed a day like this. He experiences ups and downs. “This day comes at a very good time,” his parents told me.
They put their careers aside to devote all their time to their son. Julie and Stéphane are aware of the struggle that awaits Léo. A few years ago, they suffered the pain of losing their eldest daughter after a courageous battle with cancer.
Photo Felix Seguin
Good luck to the family. Good luck to Leo.
The Canadian, Cole Caufield, Nick Suzuki. They are much more than wins and goals. They are also a kind of cure for diseases. Leo's day proves it.
The TVA Sports cameras followed Léo that day. A report will be presented in the Canadian-Lightning pregame on Saturday evening from 6 p.m.