Cape Coral girl fighting cancer drops puck at Everblades game

FORT MYERS, Fla. – Cali Trepkowski, who was diagnosed with brain cancer last September, took center ice at the Florida Everblade’s game Saturday night.

The 8-year-old goes to Trafalgar Elementary in Cape Coral and says she likes learning about all of the subjects in school.

After being diagnosed she underwent surgery to remove the tumor followed by radiation therapy. She is now starting chemotherapy at Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida.

After hearing about her story, the Florida Everblades invited her to sit on the bench during warm-ups, hang out with the players, and she even got to drop the puck at the start of the game.

“It made me feel good inside,” she said.

Her parents, who are both teachers in Lee County, say they’re overwhelmed by the support they’ve gotten.

“You know you kind of look at your life and you reevaluate things and you’re like, I think we came here for a reason because we just have an amazing support group of people,” Carrie Trepkowski, Cali’s mother, said.

About 350 people at the game donated to Cali’s medical costs, raising roughly $3,500.