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The Saskatoon Blades are in Regina preparing for the Western Hockey League season without one of the most dependable members of the team.
Described as the backbone of the organization, longtime dressing room attendant Bobby Kirkness was diagnosed with Stage 4 pancreatic and liver cancer last month.
Often seen at SaskTel Centre preparing equipment for the team, Kirkness has volunteered thousands of hours during his more than 30 years working at the building, many of them with the Blades.
The difficult battle ahead isn’t affecting Kirkness’ spirits one bit.
“I don’t feel like this is going to get me at all,” Kirkness said.
This isn’t the first time Kirkness has had to face these circumstances. He was diagnosed with leukemia in 2016.
The team’s annual pre-season tournament was named “The Kirkness Cup” later that year.
“I guess somebody wants to test me again to see if I can get through this, and I guess I’m going to do the same thing,” Kirkness said. “I’m going to fight through it and hopefully get the results that I want.”
A GoFundMe page was set up as Kirkness has opted for alternative treatments rather than chemotherapy. The uninsured treatments cost roughly $1,000 with the hope of providing a better quality of life during the fight, or even a chance at a miracle cure.
“It wasn’t easy news to take,” said Tyler Wawryk, the Blades’ director of business operations and the organizer of the GoFundMe page. “We thought that he was out of the woods and wouldn’t have to deal with something like that ever again.
“We’re trying to take Bobby’s approach to it and just take it day by day and enjoy each day that we have.”
Blades associate general manager Steve Hildebrand fondly remembers his first day on the job when he arrived in Saskatoon in 2000.
“He was actually the first guy that I met walking into the arena,” Hildebrand said of Kirkness. “He just welcomed me with open arms — and honestly, right from that day we just became really good friends.
“He always has a smile on his face. He makes people feel good about themselves.”
The fundraising goal on the GoFundMe page was set at $10,000. In just over a week, family, friends and former Blades players reached out and raised more than $17,500.
“Bobby’s the glue. When our guys come off the ice after a tough loss, Bobby’s always there smiling and telling them, ‘Hey, don’t worry. The sun is coming up tomorrow,’ ” Wawryk said of Kirkness’ ability to improve a mood.
“You can’t put a price on that.”
Blades players will wear specialty “BK” logo decals on their helmets during the shortened season to honour Kirkness, a season they say is dedicated to the cheerful assistant.
“When I first found out about the helmets, I was walking on air. I was so emotionally touched,” Kirkness said. “It means so much to me because I’ve been around the rink since it opened.”
Kirkness said going through his battle with leukemia and having dozens of old players and friends reach out and wish him well is helping inspire him to fight once again.
“It’s been a pretty cool month. I’ve been up and down, up and down,” Kirkness said. “Having all these people contact me — old hockey players, coaches — man, I tell ya, it’s like therapy.”