Large Crowd Turns Out to Support Kyle Brown, Lakeland Hockey

In a well-played hockey game that ended in a loss for Lakeland, the real star of the night was seven-year-old – a White Lake boy diagnosed with large B-cell lymphoma in December.

A huge crowd turned up for the hockey game against Waterford Mott to donate money and support the Brown family as they make it through this difficult time. All proceeds, estimated in the thousands, will go to help the Brown family pay for medical costs.

Matt Brown, Kyle's father, said the amount of support at the game was amazing.

"This community, and the hockey community in particular, has been amazing," Brown said. "It's really uplifted our family."

While Kyle was too ill to attend the game, his older brother Jake represented him for the puck drop to start the game.

At center ice, Kyle Zunich, Lakeland's assistant captain and Emmett Smith, Mott's captain, presented Jake with an autographed Pavel Datsyuk Red Wings hats and an autographed Henrik Zetterberg jersey for his brother. 

Brown, who said his sons idolize the older high school players, called it an great moment.

Lakeland played inspired hockey throughout the entire game, coming back more than once to even the score until Mott took over in the third period and won 7-6.

Despite the loss on the ice, the night was a win, bringing together the community in an unified show of support for Kyle.

Tax-deductible contributions can be made to Hockey Has A Heart, in care of the Kyle Brown Family. Zunich said receipts will be given for contributions of $50 or more. Donations can be made online at www.hockeyhasheart.com, with the Brown family designated as the recipient. The organization will match the contributions up to $500.

Hockey Has A Heart is a Michigan based 501(c)(3) formed to help support hockey families in need.