Erica Howe needed convincing to get the lump in her breast checked out. The former professional hockey goalie was at a charity ball hockey tournament when her friends and teammates urged her to get someone to look at it. She thought that it was common for women in their 30s to have lumps in their breasts.
That is how Erica’s breast cancer experience began. In August 2024, after she was diagnosed with stage 2 invasive ductal carcinoma, the lump was removed but the cancer had spread to her lymph nodes, and she required chemotherapy.
After her diagnosis, Erica was still in a bit of shock and went through the motions. “I never thought I would be the one to have cancer,” says Erica. “And then from there, right away I had surgery, recovered from that, had chemotherapy, recovered from that, radiation and then hormone blocking meds and other types of medications. And that's kind of been my past year of going through that.”
Erica’s plans came to a sudden stop. Thoughts of continuing to play hockey at any level and life plans had changed for the former goalie of the Professional Women’s Hockey League’s (PWHL) Toronto Sceptres. But that didn’t mean Erica’s competitive drive as a professional athlete stopped as well.
A drive to change the future of cancer
Shortly after her initial diagnosis, Erica used her platform and position in the hockey community to raise funds for people like her affected by cancer, with the Canadian Cancer Society. She raised over $40,000 for life-changing cancer research and nationwide vital support services.
But Erica did not stop there. She organized a cancer awareness game between her former team the Sceptres as they hosted the rival Montreal Victoire at the Coca-Cola Coliseum. In Toronto, on December 21, 2024, over 9,000 fans and both PWHL teams helped raise additional funds and rallied around Erica during her cancer experience.
“I don't know if I'll ever be able to put into words how meaningful that was and how much that helped me get through my journey,” says Erica.
The game was a moment during Erica’s cancer experience that she will never forget. After the game, she felt more comfortable sharing her story with her community. She felt less alone.
“I think coming from hockey, we always say, you want to leave it better than you found it,” says Erica. “And I talk about the people who have come before me who have made my journey easier, and I want to do the same for other people who experience cancer. I want to make their journey easier.”
Erica was surrounded by her hockey community after her diagnosis and during treatment. After experiencing such an outpouring of love and support Erica was determined to make sure that everyone affected by cancer had that same feeling.
“And as I worked through it, thinking about the people who maybe don't have those resources, I had all that going for me and it was still one of the biggest battles of my life, physically and emotionally. I think about people who don't have those resources, and I think that's even more important. Why we raise awareness and funds for cancer research and support services to help people who need it most.”
Feeling grateful for people who have come before her
Having a plan and a routine was familiar to Erica as a professional athlete – she saw the end goal and tirelessly worked toward it.
“Throughout the whole process, I just remember thinking to myself, I'm so grateful for the people who have come before me in this. The people who have been in trials - the researchers, everyone who made my path easier because the day I walked into the oncologist’s office, you know, the plan was clear.”
Now cancer-free, Erica is starting to feel normal again. She’s running goalie camps in her area and recognizes just how far she has come in one year.
But that drive to raise funds and make people’s lives easier has not stopped after her own treatment.
October Saves
As soon as Erica heard about the October Saves campaign, she was thrilled to be involved. Both her worlds were colliding - hockey and raising funds for breast cancer research during Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
During October Saves, goalies from across Canada fundraise to help the Canadian Cancer Society fund life-saving cancer research and provide nationwide support services. October Saves brings together communities that are united by the same goal of creating a world where people in Canada can live longer and fuller lives.
“My cancer experience was not unlike being a goalie where you have your people around you. But then there are times where you're alone in the net, and you don't have people with you, and you've let in a goal, and now it's on you to figure it out. That's the same thing.”
Erica remains committed to staying involved in the sport that has been her life since she first put on a pair of skates. Her professional playing days have ended for now but her passion for coaching and leading the next wave of incredible hockey players has only grown.