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This is a long story to read but wow .... what an incredible story about such a young man that gave his all for hockey. Once he was unable to play hockey he started his own Cancer Foundation in Manitoba and raised over $50,000.00.  
 
Anyways here is the story from the Regina Leader Post  
 
Former Pat Davison succumbs to cancer  
 
Greg Harder, The Leader-Post  
Published: Monday, December 04, 2006  
 
Todd Davison always had a way of defying the odds.  
 
Known to his teammates as Itty Bitty - a nickname befitting his underdog stature - the scrappy 5-foot-8 forward earned a permanent place in the hearts of the Regina Pats during the 2002-03 season.  
 
That one year in Regina epitomized the brief but memorable life of the 20-year-old, who braved the odds again in June of 2004 after being diagnosed with a rare form of cancer in his left shoulder called synovial sarcoma.  
 
Davison lived almost three years with the deadly disease, even returning to the ice briefly in 2004-05 with the AJHL's Lloydminster Blazers, before succumbing to his illness at about 11 p.m. on Friday.  
 
Davison's last hours were spent in his Winnipeg home, surrounded by the people closest to him. Among his final visitors was the father of ex-Pats teammate Jesse Deckert, one of Davison's best friends.  
 
"Todd was just an unselfish fighter," offered Merv Deckert, his voice trembling with emotion. "He fought to wait for Jesse to come home (and say a final goodbye)."  
 
Alas, it was one battle Davison couldn't win.  
 
He died about 90 minutes after Deckert backstopped the Prince Albert Raiders to an emotional 5-4 shootout win over the Pats. The Raiders dedicated their victory to Davison.  
 
Deckert, informed on Friday afternoon that Davison's condition was rapidly deteriorating, had planned to leave for Winnipeg immediately after the game. Due to poor road conditions, the best he could do was fly home Saturday morning - all the while knowing it might be too late.  
 
"His mom called Jesse after the game and she put the phone to Todd's ear," explained Merv. "I'm sure Todd wasn't coherent at the time. He was heavily drugged with the pain. Near the end, hopefully he didn't suffer too much. He was in very capable hands (with medical staff at his bedside). He died with dignity at home, with family and friends."  
 
The Pats returned to the ice on Saturday night with heavy hearts, beating the Red Deer Rebels 3-0 at the Brandt Centre.  
 
There was a moment of silence before the game, complete with a picture of Davison on the video replay screen, casting a trademark ear-to-ear grin down upon his beloved fans.  
 
"I spent a couple minutes with Jesse Deckert before (Friday's) game," said Pats GM Brent Parker. "Jesse said, 'Brent, you should know how much it meant for him to play here, how special it was.' That meant a lot to me. I think sometimes it takes something like this to step back and really realize how much of a part of your lives these kids are and how much they touch your life.  
 
"I said to my wife, I've been to players' weddings, I've seen their baby pictures, I've got Christmas cards, I've watched them score their first NHL goals, but I never, ever prepared myself to go to a funeral," added Parker, his eyes filling with tears. "He was a remarkable young man. It's not fair."  
 
Those sentiments were echoed by Pats captain Kyle Deck, the only remaining player who was teammates with Davison and his brother Wade in 2002-03. Deck, Davison and Deckert - all 16-year-old rookies that season - were good friends.  
 
"Itty Bitty, he played two feet bigger than he was," Deck recalled with a smile. "He put his heart out there every game. It's hard to believe (he's gone). Twenty years old, you have so much to look forward to. Your stomach just drops when you hear that."  
 
Davison will be remembered for his perseverance, a trait which goes hand in hand with his feisty nature.  
 
After numerous surgeries and rounds of chemotherapy - even surviving an amputation scare - Davison's condition worsened about six months ago, although he kept the dire prognosis a secret to everyone but his immediate family.  
 
"He didn't want to burden anyone," explained Merv Deckert. "He just wanted to fight it. He had it in his mind that he was going to beat it all along and he did for a long time. He's just an amazing, unique kid. I've told his dad that if my son could turn out to be like his . . . "  
 
Inspired by a meeting with cancer survivor Lance Armstrong, Davison's final months were occupied by his own charitable foundation - Believe in the Goal. He organized a hockey game last summer involving NHL players, raising $50,000 for cancer victims in Manitoba.  
 
The Pats paid a final tribute to their former player on Saturday by accepting donations for Davison's foundation.  
 
"It was his dream and it's going to go on," added Merv Deckert, again fighting back tears. "That's how we're going to remember him."  
 
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The Funeral will be held on Thursday December 7th @ 2:00pm at the North Kildonan Mennonite Brethren Church located at 1315 Gateway Rd in Winnipeg