Seattle Kraken Team Shares Moments of Connection, Hope at St. Anne Hospital

December 2025

The Seattle Kraken hockey team took an afternoon away from the ice to make a special visit to patients and staff at St. Anne Hospital in Burien. The visit coincided with "Hockey Fights Cancer," a campaign supported by Virginia Mason Franciscan Health (VMFH) and the Seattle Kraken to help raise awareness about the importance of cancer screenings and early detection during the month of November. Hockey Fights Cancer also helps raise funds for cancer patient care and support across VMFH.

In the hospital's cancer center, the arrival of the Kraken players offered a welcome change of pace for Joseph Sanchez, who was receiving one of his final rounds of treatment. "It made me feel like I was back in high school, being around the young players in that atmosphere," he shared, a smile touching his lips.

For years, unexplained pain and persistent sickness had been a challenging part of Joseph's life, yet he continued to navigate through it.

The turning point arrived when Joseph experienced a loud pop and an electric, burning sensation, leading him to believe he'd broken his shoulder. This intense experience brought him to the emergency room at St. Anne Hospital. It was there that doctors made a crucial discovery: bone cancer. "If I would’ve waited," Joseph recalled quietly, "I would’ve only had a couple of weeks to live."

Following this unexpected diagnosis earlier in the year, Joseph chose to receive treatment close to home at St. Anne. "I have not met a group of nicer people," he noted. "They remind me of the people in my hometown. It doesn’t matter who you are, they make you feel like they’ve known you forever."

Another patient and fan Chris Odenthal was beaming with excitement when the Kraken players walked through his room door. “I thought they only did this for little kids, so it was cool to feel like one and see some sports heroes,” he said.

Chris quickly sent the photo of him and the players to his sons, earning him some bragging rights. Chris is receiving care for cancer, which was found in his back following a work-related injury. “If I wouldn’t have come to the hospital when I did, I think I wouldn’t have made it. The team at St. Anne is awesome,” he said.

For patients like Joseph and Chris, facing some of their toughest challenges, the Kraken's visit provided a meaningful lift–a moment of shared humanity and encouragement.

The Center for Cancer Care at VMFH offers nationally renowned cancer experts who deliver state-of-the-art care and exceptional outcomes across the Puget Sound. The multidisciplinary team at St. Anne Hospital offers a variety of patient care services–close to home–from cancer prevention and screening, surgery, medical oncology and radiation therapy to national research and clinical trials, complementary and alternative medicine, support services, and more. More information is available at vmfh.org/cancer.