August 28, 2026 by Hilary Jenison (photos provided by SVF)
For many on the South Shore, hockey is about far more than what happens on the ice. It is about friendships forged in cold rinks, families spending weekends together on the ice and in the stands, coaches shaping young players and communities rallying around one another when it matters most.
This weekend, that community will come together at Hobomock Rink in Pembroke to honor the life and legacy of Hingham resident, father, coach and lifelong hockey player Sammy Vatrano.
Sammy passed away earlier this year at the age of 43 following a long, hard-fought battle with glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer.
The inaugural Sammy Vatrano Foundation (SVF) Memorial Showcase will take place Saturday, August 29 and Sunday, August 30 at Hobomock Arena in Pembroke, bringing together youth hockey teams from across the region for two days of hockey, community and fundraising.
All proceeds will benefit Cancer Can’t, a nonprofit providing financial and emotional support to Massachusetts families undergoing cancer treatment, support that Sammy and his family experienced firsthand during his cancer journey.
For many in Hingham, Sammy and the Vatrano family need little introduction.
Sammy and his wife, Lauren, returned to Massachusetts in 2020 after living for several years in Singapore, where they welcomed their three children, Sawyer, Brooks and Hayes. They made Hingham their home, and their family quickly became woven into the community, particularly through Hingham Public Schools, youth sports and hockey.
Sammy became a familiar face at local rinks, coaching and mentoring young players while sharing a sport that had been an important part of his own life since childhood. He grew up playing hockey with his brothers before continuing his own career at the Division I level and later graduating from Babson College. His younger brother Frank Vatrano went on to play in the NHL and currently plays for the Anaheim Ducks.
“Effort. Attitude. Never give up. Sammy didn’t just live by these words, he passed them along to our three children and this weekend we will carry them forward,” shared Lauren Vatrano.
SVF Memorial Showcase
The inaugural showcase will bring together regional youth hockey programs including the Bay State Breakers, PAL Junior Islanders, East Coast Wizards, Springfield Aces, Hingham Girls Hockey and The Kings, giving players and families an opportunity to celebrate Sammy while helping other Massachusetts families facing cancer.
The weekend will extend well beyond the rink and all community members are invited to come join the fun!
On Saturday and Sunday, Hobomock Arena will host a parking lot party featuring South Shore food trucks (All Belgium, South Shore Taco Guy, Capn Mike’s Tiki Fleet, Epiphany Mobile Coffee, Montilio’s Wood Fired Pizza & the Frosty Lobster), an inflatable obstacle course donated by Busy Bee Jumpers, raffles featuring local business gift cards from Assembly Showroom & Thacher & Spring, PKL (donated by the Weller Family of Hingham) as well as Bruins Tickets donated by Needham Bank and 2-carat diamond earring studs from Michael’s Jeweler. Good tunes will be provided by DJ Aleph! Exclusive SVF Memorial Showcase merchandise, with proceeds benefiting Cancer Can’t will also be available for purchase.
Through the Sammy Vatrano Foundation, Sammy’s family and friends are transforming the support they received during an extraordinarily difficult time into an opportunity to do the same for others.
The Sammy Vatrano Foundation Memorial Showcase takes place August 29–30 at Hobomock Arena in Pembroke. The full game schedule and additional event information are available through the Sammy Vatrano Foundation on Instagram.
For those interested in donating, please visit: givebutter.com/svfshowcase.