NY Islanders Captain Anders Lee Turns Community Impact Into Lasting Legacy

For Anders Lee, this has never been just another charity project.

The New York Islanders captain still thinks about Fenov Pierre-Louis all the time. Fenov, who died of cancer at 17 in July 2018, left the kind of impact that does not fade when the season ends or the schedule gets busy. Lee met him after an Islanders game in 2017, and what started as one interaction became the foundation for years of work helping families affected by cancer.

That legacy continues through the Fenov Scholar program, which awards scholarships to graduating high school seniors who have excelled academically while making a difference for those impacted by cancer. Lee and his wife, Grace Lee, personally read through the applications each year, looking for students who reflect the same generosity and purpose that Fenov carried.

“I really enjoy being able to get a family out and away from what they're dealing with,” Lee said via NewYorkIslanders.com. “For them to just enjoy an Islanders hockey game and hang out for a few minutes after. That's an honor of Fenov.”

That is the heart of it. Lee is not simply lending his name to a cause. He has built relationships with families, stayed in touch over the years and continued finding ways to provide support when people need it most.

His Jam Kancer in the Kan events on Long Island have become a major part of that mission, bringing together Islanders players, fans and families for Kan Jam tournaments that raise money and awareness. It is community work with a very personal engine behind it.

Lee has often credited his time at University of Notre Dame with helping shape his commitment to service, but he has said meeting Fenov is what truly “kicked it all off.”

In 2024, Lee won the King Clancy Memorial Trophy for leadership and humanitarian contributions. But the real measure of the work is simpler: Fenov’s name is still helping others move forward.

Applications for this year’s Fenov Scholar program are open through June 1 at 5 p.m. ET. Five winners are expected to be selected, though Lee admits they have expanded that number in recent years because of the strength of the applicants — a problem any captain would be proud to have.

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