NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Until the day Liam Lescarbeau can rejoin them on the ice, the Berkshire County hockey community has his back.

 

Liam, a member of the Northern Berkshire Youth Hockey League Black Bears program, this spring was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.

 

While he is battling cancer, hockey players from throughout the region will be battling at the Peter W. Foote Vietnam Veterans Memorial Rink at the Summer Bash Hockey Tournament that gets underway on Friday evening.

 

Running through Sunday evening, the event brings together 10 teams who will compete in hour-long contests throughout the weekend, leading to two championship games starting at 5:30 p.m. on Sunday.

 

The event and all its proceeds benefit the Lescarbeau family, which has given its heart and soul to the sport since Liam stepped on the ice at age 4.

 

"He is the kid that is at the rink first," said Liam's coach, Kaitlyn Sanchez, who will be playing in at least five games while helping out at the concession stand and raffle table. "He goes to any stick sessions, any available practice. Wendy and Jon [Liam's parents] basically lived at the rink. Wendy worked the concession stand a lot for MCLA games and public skating because Liam wanted to be there.

 

"It's crazy to think that something like this could happen to such a healthy, outgoing kid that's ready to play all the time."