{"id":839665,"date":"2026-09-07T16:50:15","date_gmt":"2026-09-07T16:50:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/839665\/"},"modified":"2026-09-07T16:50:15","modified_gmt":"2026-09-07T16:50:15","slug":"nhl-prospect-austin-roest-reacts-to-girlfriends-cancer-diagnosis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/839665\/","title":{"rendered":"NHL Prospect Austin Roest Reacts to Girlfriend’s Cancer Diagnosis"},"content":{"rendered":"

NHL prospect Austin Roest shared a message of support after his girlfriend, Milly Okabe, was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cMilly, I don\u2019t even know what to say,\u201d Roest, 22, wrote via Instagram<\/a> on Friday, September 4. \u201cI am so sorry this is happening to you. No one deserves to go through this. That being said, I have no doubt in my mind you will beat cancer. You are the strongest person I know and I know you will overcome everything that comes your way over the next year. I love you so much and I will be right there with you through all of this \u2764\ufe0f.\u201d<\/p>\n

The hockey player shared two pictures from Okabe\u2019s hospital bed, while urging his followers to donate to a GoFundMe<\/a> set up \u201cto help support Milly and her family during this difficult time.\u201d<\/p>\n

Roest was drafted by the Nashville Predators in the sixth round of the 2023 NHL Draft. He split last season between the AHL\u2019s Milwaukee Admirals and the ECHL\u2019s Atlanta Gladiators.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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\n Related: Arizona State Hockey Releases Statement After Matthew Mayich\u2018s Hospitalization<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tThe Arizona State University men\u2019s hockey team released a statement about sophomore defenseman Matthew Mayich, weeks after he collapsed during a controversial outdoor workout.\u00a0 \u201cThinking of you 27 \ud83d\udc9b,\u201d the statement read, which was issued by the team via social media on Saturday, September 5. \u201cMatthew \u2014 your ASU teammates and the entire Sun Devil [\u2026]\t\t<\/p>\n

According to the GoFundMe, Okabe, 22, was diagnosed with stage 4 adenocarcinoma, a type of cancer that starts in the glands that line the organs.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Okabe revealed her diagnosis on Friday in a social media post of her own.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s a lot of fear of the unknown, but what I do know is that I am extremely lucky in this life to have friends that are family, and a family that loves me this hard,\u201d she shared via Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Okabe added, \u201cThank you to everyone who has supported me in any way. I\u2019m so extremely grateful.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\n Austin Roest, Milly Okabe Courtesy of Austin Roest\/Instagram<\/p>\n

Roest and Okabe have been dating for over three years, per the athlete\u2019s Instagram. \u201c1 year with the best \u2764\ufe0f,\u201d he gushed<\/a> in June 2024.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Okabe, a former figure skater, is described as \u201ca kind, strong and selfless person who means so much to everyone around her,\u201d in the fundraiser arranged in her honor.<\/p>\n

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\n Related: Arizona State Hockey Players \u2018Scared\u2018 to Talk After Matthew Mayich Incident<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tFear is reverberating through the Arizona State hockey program after sophomore defenseman Matthew Mayich suffered a heat stroke during a controversial workout and was subsequently hospitalized.\u00a0 \u201cThese kids are scared,\u201d the Mayich family attorney, Rob Carey, exclusively told Us on Thursday, September 3, of how the health scare has impacted the remaining team members. \u201cThe [\u2026]\t\t<\/p>\n

\u201cSkating has always been a huge part of Milara\u2019s life,\u201d the GoFundMe reads. \u201cAfter spending years as a high-level skater herself, she now loves being able to share that passion by teaching kids how to skate. Outside of the rink, she is constantly with the people she loves the most \u2014 her friends and family, as well as simply having the most fun in everything she does.\u201d<\/p>\n

The page continues, \u201cAs Milara goes through treatment, her family is doing everything possible to remain by her side. Along with the emotional weight of her diagnosis, she is now facing time away from work, travel and accommodation costs, medications, fertility preservation, and many other unexpected expenses. Our hope is to surround Milara and her family with the same love and support they have always shown the people around them. By easing some of the financial pressure, we hope they can focus their energy on what matters most right now Milara\u2019s care, well-being, and spending time together as a family.\u201d<\/p>\n

Okabe\u2019s GoFundMe had raised over $50,000 at the time of this story\u2019s publication.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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