Tucker Helstrom was a boy living in the Hopkins community. He spent his short 9 ½ years playing sports, laughing with friends and family, and showing love to all, even after cancer forced the amputation of his leg. Tucker showed everyone how to live during his heroic battle with Osteosarcoma. Now, his mother, family, and his “team” are continuing his legacy. Tucker, with his amazing strength and attitude, created an explosion. Team Tucker ensures more children Play, Laugh, and feel Love. 

Those are the words on the www.PlayLaughLove.org website in honor of Tucker Helstrom. Since his passing in 2016, his former teammates, the Hopkins community and the hockey community as a whole have come together to raise money for other children and their families who are faced with the daunting task of battling cancer.

From 2018-2020, Jody De St. Hubert and her sons, Cade and Finn, would host a 4-on-4 pond hockey tournament fundraiser in their backyard. A makeshift Stanley Cup made of cardboard and tinfoil was the trophy everyone was chasing, but it was Tucker who they were playing for.  Because of Covid, in 2021 Cade and Finn switched their fundraiser to the Team Tucker Dollar Donation Drive. This year they have done it again, and it is getting bigger than ever.  

“We played sports together when we were kids,” said Cade De St. Hubert, now 15 and playing for the varsity team in Hopkins.  “Finn and I were lucky enough to experience the kindness and joy that he brought to others.”

Since becoming Tucker’s Teammates five years ago, Cade and Finn’s donations have grown each year. This year’s Dollar Donation Drive will definitely be the biggest so far.  There are 25 teams participating in helping raise money in Tucker’s honor to help others who are going through what Tucker had to endure. The teams will distribute the donations to Tucker’s nonprofit, Team Tucker: Play Laugh Love, before the varsity Hopkins game on Jan. 27.

“We know this will help young kids needing joy while battling sickness,” Cade said. 

Tucker & Zucker

Just two weeks before his 9th birthday and during hockey tryouts, the Helstroms found out Tucker had Osteosarcoma, a rare bone cancer that affects about 400 kids annually. 

While in the hospital, former Wild player Jason Zucker paid a visit to the Masonic Children’s Hospital with teammates and walked into Tucker’s room. Zucker just happened to be Tucker’s favorite player. The pair struck up a friendship, and when Tucker was in hospice care just a short eight months after his diagnosis, Jason Zucker and his wife Carly were there. 

Tucker inspired them to create their own foundation, Give 16.  They have raised and donated money to build the Zucker Family Suite and Broadcast Studio at the U of M Children’s Hospital where sick children can enjoy watching sporting events and daily sports broadcasts. 

How close did Zucker and Tucker become? Zucker has a tattoo on his wrist of Tucker’s signature with the words “shoot more.”  During their visits, Tucker offered Zucker some advice after watching him pass up taking shots during Wild games. He told him to shoot more.  Zucker told the Post-Gazette in Pittsburgh that “shooting more” is more than firing more pucks at the net. It is something that translates to life.

“...off the ice, why hold back? Why not take the chance? Why not try something new? Why not go after your goals? Take your shot at whatever that certain thing is.” Zucker had said.

Tucker’s Legacy

Cade and Finn De St. Hubert are continuing Tucker’s legacy. In the spring of 2016, Tucker was on their baseball team and because he couldn’t play, he became another coach. It was right after he got his leg amputated.  “He led us to the championship game,” Cade said. “On the bench he kept us motivated. Even through his hard times he always showed up with a smile on his face and helped keep the team positive.”

It’s memories like those that keeps Tucker alive in the hearts of others, and motivates the De St. Hubert brothers and the Hopkins community to continue to raise as much as they can to help those in need.

“After he passed away we wanted to keep spreading his legacy,” Cade said. “It feels great to keep Tucker’s legacy alive by helping others.”

How can you help?

Kids who want to do their own fundraisers and become Tucker’s Teammates can visit the PlayLaughLove.org website to get ideas and contact Dana, Tucker’s mom and executive director of Team Tucker.  Money raised will benefit children and teens battling life-threatening diseases.

There is also a GoFundMe page set up where people can donate online. The link is https://www.gofundme.com/f/team-tucker-dollar-donations-2022?qid=f25900b1fc26c03d964532c498bd257a.

To learn more about Tucker and his journey through his war with cancer you can read his story in the book that his mother, Dana, wrote titled There’s Nothing We Can’t Do which is available at https://danacares.org/.