This hockey fan spotted something unusual during a game—and saved a life

At a hockey game between the Seattle Kraken and the Vancouver Canucks last October, a fan’s sharp eye saved the life of Vancouver's assistant equipment manager, Brian Hamilton. Nadia Popovici, a Seattle fan in the stands, noticed something unusual on the back of Hamilton's neck—a mole that looked suspiciously like melanoma. Unsure if he was aware of it, she typed a message on her phone and pressed it against the glass, getting his attention.

"Hey, the mole on the back of your neck looks cancerous," Popovici’s message read. After initially brushing it off, Hamilton later decided to get the mole checked out by a doctor. That decision proved life-saving—it turned out to be melanoma, a dangerous form of skin cancer.

Popovici’s observation set off a chain of events that saved Hamilton from a potentially fatal diagnosis. Doctors told Hamilton that the mole could have become life-threatening within a few years if left untreated. Reflecting on the moment, Popovici recalled, “I banged on the glass. He kind of didn't look at me, so I smiled and banged again to try and look as friendly as possible." Hamilton, likely caught up in the game, didn’t react much at the time but later followed her advice.

This chance encounter serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of early detection when it comes to skin cancer, a message underscored by Reddit users who chimed in with vital information. One user, u/SwimThruGround, emphasized the seriousness of melanoma, advising, “Here’s a reminder that sunscreen is your friend… Get it checked before it spreads to your lymph nodes and becomes a big f**king problem.”

Melanoma is no small concern, and many people, like Hamilton, may not notice suspicious changes in their skin unless someone points it out. The ABCDE rule (Asymmetry, Border, Color, Diameter, Evolving) is a common guide for spotting warning signs of skin cancer, but another user, latending, pointed out that nodular melanomas, a more dangerous type, follow the EFG rule: Elevated, Firm, and Growing. These symptoms can be more subtle and easily overlooked.

Months later, when Vancouver returned to Seattle for another game, Hamilton finally got the chance to thank Popovici in person. In a heartfelt pre-game meeting, he expressed his gratitude, shaking her hand and saying, "Thank you so much." Their emotional reunion, captured on video, highlighted the depth of Hamilton's appreciation for her vigilance. But there was one more surprise in store.

Both the Vancouver Canucks and the Seattle Kraken chipped in to award Popovici a $10,000 scholarship toward her medical school education. It was a fitting reward for the young woman whose instincts and knowledge may have saved Hamilton’s life.

Stories like Popovici’s serve as an important reminder to trust your instincts when something doesn’t look right—whether it’s a mole on your own body or someone else’s. Early detection is often the key to catching skin cancer before it turns deadly. As Reddit user u/BSB8728 pointed out, people with a large number of moles are at higher risk for melanoma and should see a dermatologist regularly for "mole mapping," which tracks changes in skin spots over time.

Popovici’s story has inspired countless others to be more aware of the signs of melanoma. One Redditor, TaterTits024, shared a similar experience: "A retired doctor stopped me at a farmers market and told me to get this spot on my neck looked at. Confirmed melanoma. I was 22, and it wasn’t on my radar. So glad to have caught it early."

Ultimately, Popovici’s simple act of concern and her willingness to speak up made all the difference. It’s a reminder for all of us: when you see something that doesn’t seem right, say something. You never know when it might save a life.