Sinclair buoyed in cancer fight by Stankoven Stanley Cup experience, advocates for colorectal health

Sinclair, 44, noticed about six months ago his stool samples were thin and bloody.

He said he spoke to his doctor immediately and two months later after an emergency colonoscopy was diagnosed with Stage 4 colon cancer that has spread to his liver.

“It was probably the hardest thing in my life to relay it to my kids,” Sinclair said, noting his wife Catrina’s prominent role in relaying the devastating news to daughter Zoey, 12, and son Nixon, 10.

“It was hard at the time because you’re like, ‘Why is this happening to us?’ Right now, it seems like a dream. It doesn’t really seem to be true, to me. It basically turned our life upside down in a day.”

Sinclair is undergoing chemotherapy that is designed to shrink the cancer so it can be removed from the liver and colon during multiple surgical operations.

“When I get up and see my kids in the morning, it’s a lot easier to fight,” Sinclair said.

Sinclair is fighting for his life with backing from an army – friends, family and strangers – that has pitched in to raise nearly $100,000 on a GoFundMe page.

The beloved Kamloops youth sports coach said the soccer, hockey and dance communities have been especially empathetic.

“There are so many good people out there in this world,” said Sinclair, formerly an assistant coach for the Kamloops Storm. “Sometimes, you see a lot of negative. Everybody’s got to realize there are more positive people than anything. It’s hard not to get emotional. It’s overwhelming – more than anything I could even ask for in my life.”

The Fortiva Foundation – founded by executive director Derek Strokon, a friend of Sinclair’s for nearly a decade – specializes in positivity.

“We can’t take the cancer away from families, but we can add some joy and kindness into that journey,” said Strokon, noting Fortiva supports cancer research and acts of goodwill for patients.

The Sinclairs were spoiled with help from Fortiva on Sunday, treated to Starbucks, a shopping spree at Lululemon and a meal at Manila Social.

“I’ve never owned Lululemon clothing in my life,” Sinclair said with a laugh. “They suited me up with a whole outfit. They treated us like we were basically rock stars.”

Another event was taking place on Sunday: The Logan Stankoven Stanley Cup celebration.

The immunocompromised Sinclair – a hockey fan of serious note – was forced to miss the 7,000-person party at Riverside Park.

Strokon reached out to Wes Stankoven, Logan’s father, with a request to squeeze in the Sinclairs on their whirlwind day with hockey’s holy grail.

The Carolina Hurricanes’ forward swashbuckled into Royal Inland Hospital on Sunday holding Lord Stanley’s Mug and devoted time for an exclusive chat with the Sinclairs.

“To be able to actually hold the Stanley Cup when I never thought I’d be able to do it in my life … it speaks to the character of the Stankoven family,” Sinclair said. “They gave five to 10 minutes to talk to our family and be very personable.”

Added Strokon: “Seeing Scott’s face the moment he saw the Stanley Cup … his face lit up. That’s the whole purpose of the foundation.”

Sinclair said Nixon did not want to touch the Cup.

“He thought it would be bad luck because he would like to win it some day,” Sinclair said. “It’s memories like that and seeing the smile on my daughter’s and my wife’s face … yesterday was basically a dream come true.”

Sinclair is encouraging others to take colon health seriously.

“I just want people to go get checked out,” he said. “Not just for yourself, but for your loved ones. Your loved ones care for you so much. If you think it’s nothing major, it could be major. Go to a doctor. Get checked out.”

Strokon has a message for men who may be letting stigma keep them away from the doctor’s office.

“Get over it,” he said. “As men, especially, we try and be tough. With a colon or rectal region, it’s not something you sit around with your buddies at the pub and talk about. Taking your health into your own hands and being an advocate for yourself is absolutely important.”

Strokon said more than a dozen men have gone for either colon or rectal exams since hearing of Sinclair’s diagnosis.

“The guy is a superhero,” Strokon said. “I would run through a wall for him.”

by Marty Hastings

Sinclair buoyed in cancer fight by Stankoven Stanley Cup experience, advocates for colorectal health

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