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LAKEVILLE, Minn. — A battle much bigger than hockey brought people together at Hasse Arena in Lakeville Tuesday night.
As Lakeville South High School took on Apple Valley/Burnsville, the main focus of the evening was the fight against ovarian cancer — all in honor of Katy Starfield, who passed away from the disease three months ago.
Starfield was a proud hockey mom. “She usually came to all my games,” her son, Jack Starfield, said. “She’s probably one of the most competitive people you’ll ever meet, so that’s where I got my competitiveness from, and she was very, very caring.”
Starfield, who was an avid athlete and fierce competitor herself, was diagnosed with stage four ovarian cancer in August of 2021. She passed away in October of 2024 at the age of 48.
Her husband Glenn Starfield said the diagnosis came as a shock, and Starfield fought relentlessly against the disease. “She had no family history. It really literally came out of nowhere,” Glenn said. “She threw everything at it, so it was a real long, hard battle.”
Tuesday’s game at Hasse Arena kicked off with an honorary puck drop by Starfield’s family, a tribute to a woman whose passion and love for her family continues to inspire others. Starfield’s family said they hope her story will help spread awareness about the disease.
“I just hope that her legacy is that she didn’t fight in vain; that there’s hope for other people,” Starfield’s sister Maria Johnson said. “She was so strong. I’m really proud of her courageous fight.”
For the Starfield family, Tuesday’s game was a fitting tribute. Starfield spent many years at the rink, cheering for her son and rooting for the team. “It’s super nice to see everybody in the stands,” Jack said.
Donations collected during the event will directly support the Minnesota Ovarian Cancer Alliance (MOCA), a group Starfield became involved with after her diagnosis. The funds will help MOCA support women battling ovarian cancer and fund crucial research.
According to MOCA, about 400 women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer in Minnesota every year.
There is currently no reliable test to detect the disease.
The organization’s executive director Kathleen Gavin said the disease often goes undiagnosed until it is in advanced stages. “Most women don’t know a lot about ovarian cancer, and unfortunately, there is no early detection test,” Gavin explained.
MOCA is one of the top nonprofit funders of ovarian cancer research in the nation.
