Former Maple Leafs Enforcer Kelly Chase Gives Update Regarding Battle With Cancer
Former Maple Leafs enforcer Kelly Chase never backed down from a fight, and he is battling his toughest battle yet but has shown he isn't giving up in the slightest.
When a player dons the Toronto Maple Leafs jersey, they are expected to give it their all no matter what. While so many names have come and gone over the decades, the pride of being a Maple Leaf brings them together no matter the time or how long they played here thanks to that fight for not only a game but a city.
Someone who knows all about a fight is Kelly Chase, a notorious enforcer in the 90's. From fighting names like Stu Grimson, Tony Twist, and Bob Probert; there was nothing he would back down from.
The former Maple Leaf has been fighting a different fight recently, battling leukemia since December 2023. Last April, Chase posted he was going to enter his 5th round of chemotherapy, but looked at it like just another five minutes in the box:
Chase, a veteran of 458 games throughout his 11-year NHL career, was not a goal-scorer, nor was he the flashiest player on the ice. He preferred to let his fists do the talking and amassed an incredible 2017 PIM, ranking him 55th all-time.
Beyond hockey though, Chase also did a lot of charity work with the Gateway Special Hockey Program; a charity he started that allowed developmentally disabled youth to participate in organized hockey, and after retiring from hockey became a broadcaster for the St. Louis Blues.
However, there is a shining light to this dark situation:
If there is a positive out of this entire situation, Chase's brother is a match for a bone marrow transplant, so hopefully for Chase and all involved: it's a speedy and smooth recovery.
Kelly Chase truly showed what it means to be a Toronto Maple Leaf. To present yourself with respect, but the fire inside that burns through every fan. That you represent an entire community when you put on the jersey.
It's the same fire that Chase has during his current battle. No doubt, he's gonna land a right hook and knock out leukemia too.
We here at HockeyPatrol would like to wish Kelly Chase the best as he deals with his battle with leukemia and hope for a smooth and speedy recovery at the end of the day.
