Kendra Fortin is undefeated on faceoffs.
The Bemidji State women’s hockey senior defenseman is 2-0 on the dot in her career, though, neither of them officially count in the record book.
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Instead, her faceoffs were more impactful.
It’s become a routine for Fortin in late October and early November. The blueliner out of Thunder Bay, Ontario, hears her name called for the starting lineup before coasting to center ice for a ceremonial puck drop.
Her dad, Cory, is the one holding the puck.
“It’s like any exciting moment in your life,” Kendra said. “You space out during it.”
Typically, the captains for both teams pose for the puck drop, with the home representative winning the faux draw and handing the puck back to the honoree. However, the Beavers make an exception for the Organ Donor Awareness Game.
Cory and the Fortin family are the beneficiaries of organ donation. Cory was diagnosed with end-stage kidney failure in 2012. In 2017, he started peritoneal dialysis to help extend his life. Kendra created a “Kidney for Cory” campaign in 2020 to help raise awareness for organ donations and help find her dad a match.
On June 25, 2021, a kidney was found.
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“When the phone rang, it was disbelief,” Cory recalled. “It almost seemed like a bit of a scam. It took me 10 minutes to believe what the people were telling me. To be 100% honest, I don’t think it’s still fully set in. But then there’s joy. Yes, there’s fear, but it’s utter joy.”
Kendra’s efforts didn’t stop when Cory found a match. During her sophomore season, she teamed up with fellow sophomore hockey player Donte Lawson on the men’s team to spread awareness in the college hockey community.
Like the Fortins, the Lawson family has experienced their own fights against kidney failure. Donte’s younger brother, Dominik, has required three kidney transplants.
“It’s heartbreaking finding out I need a new kidney,” Dominik said. “When I find out I’m getting a new kidney, I’m very grateful. I'm just thankful for the people around me in our community.”
Now seniors, Kendra and Donte are heading into their final Organ Donation Awareness Game as Bemidji State hockey players. It’s become a tradition at the Sanford Center, with Cory and Dominik dropping the pucks before the women’s and men’s contests. The women's team hosts Minnesota, while the men's team hosts Minnesota State.
It’s the third consecutive year Kendra and Donte have gone the extra mile. It’s also their final season with collegiate eligibility.
“Go big or go home, I was raised like that,” Kendra said. “We’ve done a great job in the past, but I want to end with a bang. We have shirts, gift bags with information of mine and Donte’s story, more information on how to become a donor. Getting to have both aspects of that is really cool. The more awareness we can put out there the greater chance we can save someone’s life.”
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Health updates
Upon receiving a transplant, a patient goes through regularly scheduled check-up appointments. For Cory, visits with his doctor have been encouraging.
“They follow things closely in Thunder Bay,” Cory said. “I have a clinic appointment every six months and blood work every three. I had the transplant done in Toronto, and they keep a close eye on how I’m doing. The people in Thunder Bay know what’s going on, and it’s been going great.”
Dominik, however, is having some complications as of late.
“I go see my main kidney doctor every three months,” Dominik said. “I have labs every two weeks to check on my kidney. My labs right now aren’t the greatest, and I need to have a biopsy on my kidney. I got sick about a month ago and felt off.”
Despite his recent results, Dominik still plans to drop the puck on Saturday when his brother takes on Minnesota State. This could be the first time Donte plays in a game where his brother drops the ceremonial puck. He was a healthy scratch his sophomore season and injured last October with an upper-body injury.
“It’s cool how my brother and (BSU) has set this all up so the word gets out there for people to hear about organ donation,” Dominik said. “We’re very close. He’s been with me throughout my surgeries and all of my transplants. I’m so grateful for him; he always looked out for me.”
The Fortin and Lawson families know firsthand that organ donation is a two-way street. While receiving the news that new kidneys were on the way, the realization of what that means for another family eventually sets in.
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“Being able to go watch Kendra play hockey, to go ice fishing and hunting with my son, to take my wife on our first vacation in many, many years, I have goosebumps,” Cory said. “It’s given me my life back. You realize one of the happiest days of your life is someone else’s worst. Every time I stand in front of the mirror and brush my teeth in the morning, I’m mindful of the deceased person and their family and the role they played in my family’s lives.”
What’s next?
While this is their final weekend hosting the Organ Donation Awareness Games as players, Kendra and Donte still plan to be involved in spreading the word after they graduate.
Kendra, specifically, is making a career out of it.
“It really sparked the nurse side of me,” Kendra said. “The end goal is to be an organ transplant coordinator. I can’t take this gift for granted, so if I can help other families, I will. This is a stepping stone to that. I don’t have an actual effect on a family yet, but it’s about getting the awareness out there.”
Kendra was 9 years old when she found out Cory needed a new kidney. She recalls interacting with the nurses and doctors throughout her dad’s treatments.
Cory watched her daughter stay curious while showing strength beyond her age.
“It’s amazing and unsurprising,” Cory said. “When Kendra was little, she was always trying to make things better for people who needed help. That’s just who she was, even at an age when people didn’t expect that of her. It doesn’t surprise me that she’s doing this, but I’m just so proud and amazed by her.”
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The amazement has spread to Kendra’s coaches and teammates.
“It really is bigger than hockey, and we all know that,” women’s assistant coach Emma Sobieck said. “It’s part of why everyone loves BSU, too. The community and care reach further than athletics. Kenny is a great example of that with this game, so is Donte. They’ve brought admin, staff and everybody to tears at times sharing their stories.”
Even the often stoic BSU men’s hockey head coach Tom Serratore got emotional talking about the efforts and life experiences Donte and Kendra experienced.
“It’s great to see our guys involved with so many different things outside of the game of hockey,” Serratore said. “It’s personal for Donte, but it’s awesome to see him do this and for our guys to see it, too. It makes me choke up just talking about it right now. It’s great to see student-athletes involved in that capacity.”
On Saturday, though, Cory will walk to the center faceoff dot with unfinished business. The typically tear-jerking and adrenaline-inducing experience has come with some bargaining.
He wants the opposing team’s captain to duel his daughter to win the faceoff.
“I’ve always tried to get the players to actually battle when I drop the puck,” Cory quipped. “I haven’t had any takers yet, but maybe this is the year.”
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Anyone interested in becoming an organ donor can visit in the United States or in Canada.
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