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Hockey for Harper Charity Tournament

Hockey player skating on the ice at the Hockey for Harper charity tournament supporting pediatric cancer research

An Amazing Weekend for a Great Cause

What started as a $10,000 fundraising goal has grown into a powerful community movement. The “Hockey for Harper” charity tournament, held March 28–29 at Flexible Arena in Hauppauge, NY, brought together adult hockey players, sponsors, and supporters to raise money for Harper, a 2-year-old from Merrick battling an extraordinarily rare form of stage 3 ovarian cancer. (News 12 Long Island)

Harper was diagnosed at just 10 months old after what was initially thought to be constipation turned out to be a malignant ovarian tumor that had already spread to her lymph nodes. Her parents, Joe and Melanie Wengrod, pushed for answers until an ultrasound revealed a large mass. Harper went into emergency surgery the very next day to remove a tumor — roughly the size of a softball — that turned out to be an extremely rare form of ovarian cancer. According to her family, she may be the youngest known patient ever diagnosed with this specific tumor type. (Patch)

Doctors initially suspected neuroblastoma — a more commonly seen childhood cancer — before realizing just before surgery that they were dealing with something else entirely: a malignant ovarian tumor. “Right before her biopsy, the surgeon came in and said, ‘We were wrong, we looked at the scans more, and it’s not neuroblastoma, it’s her ovary,'” Melanie recalled. Harper’s care was then transferred to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, where it remains today. (93.3 The Breeze)

Harper underwent seven rounds of chemotherapy and multiple surgeries to remove affected lymph nodes. She was hitting all her developmental milestones — learning to walk and speaking remarkably well for her age. In early 2026, follow-up imaging confirmed the cancer had returned and spread to her liver at Stage 3, and Harper recently began another round of chemotherapy. The family applied for an immunotherapy clinical trial at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, but Harper was not accepted. (Greater Long Island)

The tournament was a collaboration between Whip Pediatric Cancer, Flexible IT, Flexible Arena, and the Long Island Hockey League. Jordan Belous, CEO and founder of Whip Pediatric Cancer — who also works for Flexible IT — organized the event after first connecting with Harper’s family through a care package request. Featuring around 12 teams and nearly 100 players, the tournament offered three guaranteed games per team plus an eight-team playoff. Teams were balanced by skill level and playfully named after chip flavors. Food trucks were on site, with a portion of proceeds benefiting Whip Pediatric Cancer. (News 12 Long Island)

The story of Hockey for Harper is also deeply personal to the team at Flexible IT. The founders of the company first met playing hockey at Stony Brook University — a passion they carried forward for years before eventually building the Flexible Arena itself. The rink was created in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, when indoor ice facilities were shut down or severely limited, leaving youth teams with nowhere to play. What started as a temporary outdoor surface grew into a permanent, year-round community facility after a roof was added in 2024. The arena operates as a non-profit, offering free ice time to qualifying teams and organizations — and when asked how the community can give back, the answer from Flexible IT is always the same: donate to Whip Pediatric Cancer.

Jordan Belous, who organized the tournament, has her own deeply personal connection to pediatric cancer. She founded Whip Pediatric Cancer at just 16 years old after her mother was diagnosed with a rare pediatric cancer when Jordan was 2 — and was treated at the very same Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center where Harper receives her care today. Now 26, Jordan has spent over a decade running the nonprofit and turned that mission into Hockey for Harper after deciding a care package simply wasn’t enough. “Helping kids has been my mission for a big part of my life,” Belous told Greater Long Island. (Greater Long Island)

For the Wengrod family, the fight extends beyond the rink. Harper’s mother, Melanie, left her position as a middle and high school math teacher to care for Harper full-time following the diagnosis. Her father, Joe, has continued working — often from hospital rooms and waiting areas — to support his family through what he describes as “an impossible weight on both sides.” The couple is also raising two older daughters, ages 6 and 4. “For me, it’s almost like being in a full-time fog,” Joe told Greater Long Island. “I need to keep a brave face for my other two little daughters. Day to day is incredibly difficult, but what other choice do we have other than to stay optimistic?” (Greater Long Island)

Pediatrician Dr. John Zaso, speaking to News 12 Long Island, noted that pediatric ovarian cancer is extremely rare and that children with it are often born with the condition, with tumors manifesting later. “It’s critical that these things don’t get defunded, that we keep funding these treatments and research is allowed to go on so that we can come up with these different cures,” he said. Harper’s aunt, Stefanie Arigo, added: “We just have to hope that even though it is really rare what she is suffering from, that there’s something somewhere out there that can help her.” (News 12 Long Island)

Joe Wengrod has one message for other parents: trust your instincts and keep asking questions. “You are your child’s advocate,” he said. “You have to be their eyes and ears and support at all times, and you have to push for answers that you need, no matter what. Even when you’re afraid to find out, you have to ask the questions.” Through it all, Harper continues to show her strength — bright, determined, and still making her family laugh. “She is an incredible fighter — the toughest little girl in the world,” Joe told Greater Long Island. (Patch) (Greater Long Island)

The community’s response has been extraordinary. The original $10,000 goal was reached in just the first five days, and the fundraising target was raised multiple times — to $15,000, then $20,000, then $25,000 — with each milestone quickly surpassed. By the end of the weekend, the event had raised over $40,000 for Harper’s family. (93.3 The Breeze) (News 12 Long Island) Donations are still being accepted for Harper’s family and for Whip Pediatric Cancer’s broader work supporting families facing pediatric cancer. To donate, visit whippediatriccancer.org/hockey-for-harper-signup/.

As Seen In the News

The Hockey for Harper tournament received coverage from local and regional media outlets. Read more about the event and Harper’s story through these articles:

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