{"id":446819,"date":"2026-02-03T16:18:15","date_gmt":"2026-02-03T16:18:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/446819\/"},"modified":"2026-02-03T16:18:15","modified_gmt":"2026-02-03T16:18:15","slug":"nhl-angers-fans-by-slashing-cancer-research-donation-by-80-for-missed-shot","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/446819\/","title":{"rendered":"NHL angers fans by slashing cancer research donation by 80% for missed shot"},"content":{"rendered":"

The NHL has received a lot of backlash over an odd moment during the Stadium Series matchup between the Tampa Bay Lightning<\/a> and Boston Bruins<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The moment came when USF athletics CEO Rob Higgins, a cancer survivor, was brought to the ice to attempt a shot toward a small opening in the net from center ice.<\/p>\n

If Higgins made the shot, the NHL would make $1 million in cancer research donations.<\/p>\n

If he missed, the donations would total $200,000.<\/p>\n

MORE:\u00a0Maple Leafs get an Auston Matthews update on his future plans<\/a><\/p>\n

It was not an easy make by any means, and so Higgins didn’t slot the puck into the opening.<\/p>\n

That meant the donation was 80% smaller than it could’ve been.<\/p>\n

Social media was not happy.<\/p>\n

This was absolutely out of touch, just classless. Lowering a $1 million charity donation by $800,000 because a cancer survivor missed a tiny, impossible target? Live on TV like that? The NHL should\u2019ve built the widest net and asked dozens of survivors to score symbolically \ud83e\udd22\ud83e\udd2e https:\/\/t.co\/wD7E3nNlnF<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 nina \u2728 (@flpantinhas) February 2, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

im genuinely baffled anyone thought this was a good idea https:\/\/t.co\/yn0C3IsHjp<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Rebound (@OilersRebound) February 2, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

MORE:\u00a0Matthew Schaefer called his shot against the Rangers<\/a><\/p>\n

Higgins, for his part, showed gratitude in a social media post of his own:<\/p>\n

A huge THANK YOU to the @TBLightning<\/a> & @NHL<\/a> for this amazing honor & for donating $100k to the following charities:
\u26a1\ufe0fUSF Health
\u26a1\ufe0fUSF Stampede for Women
\u26a1\ufe0fMoffitt
\u26a1\ufe0fCoaching Love
\u26a1\ufe0fCoop\u2019s Catch<\/p>\n

Plus another surprise $100k to Moffitt!<\/p>\n

And with that, my hockey career (which\u2026 https:\/\/t.co\/lx23paGhB0<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Rob Higgins (@RHiggins_USF) February 2, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

It’s certainly solid of the NHL to make such a donation.\u00a0<\/p>\n

But it is also odd that they framed it in this way, essentially leaving charitable money on the table and making the whole thing feel a little convoluted.\u00a0<\/p>\n

More NHL news:<\/p>\n