Hockey goalie teams up with ‘October Saves’ to benefit cancer research

Every goal Wantagh teen Keegan Groom saves in the month of October goes to help the fight against breast cancer.
The 14-year-old goalie for the Brooklyn Aviators says the fundraiser is a personal mission after his mother was diagnosed with breast cancer when he was 11 years old.
“It's definitely made me more determined and it's made me play better in a way because I know it's for a reason,” Groom said.
Groom heard about "October Saves," a national fundraiser in which hockey goalies of all levels receive pledges for every glove save, pad save, diving save and poke check made during the month of October.
The donations benefit cancer research.
Groom said he told his mother, Kelly Groom, about his goal two days after she had surgery.
In his first year with "October Saves" Groom raised $10,000. In his second year, he raised $4,000 and this year he's raised $3,500 so far.
With every save Groom makes, his mother is never far from his thoughts.
“On the back of my helmet I have a pink ribbon with her name on it because I knew it was for her,” he said.
Groom’s mother is now cancer-free.
“I've learned what it really is to give back to a community that you've been a part of with my mom being a cancer survivor,” Groom said. “I know that it's a rough thing to go through so I know I'm giving back to somebody else who needs it.”