The Team Around Jagger

How the UND hockey family rallied around one of its biggest little fans.

Every member of the UND hockey team wore green wristbands during games and interviews throughout the 2025-26 season.

#JAGGSSTRONG, they read.

“UND is my favorite team,” said Jagger Lindsey, the 6-year-old son of Mike, ’02, and Blair Lindsey. “And hockey is my favorite sport.”

Weeks after attending the Mario Lamoureux Hockey Camp in Bismarck in the summer of 2025, Jagger was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML). Since then, the family has endured bone marrow transplants, medical airlifts, and lengthy hospital stays. As this story was being written, Jagger was cancer-free, and in late July, he laced up his skates and returned to the ice for the first time in a year.

Cancer is part of Jagger’s story. But it isn’t the whole story. This is also a story about the way the members of the UND hockey family rallied around one of their biggest (little) fans.

Among the Lindseys’ many memories, one hospital visit stands out. When Ben Strinden, ’26, Abram Wiebe, and Zach Sandy visited Jagger in Fargo, Mike and Blair expected a quick hello. “I thought they’d stay 10 minutes,” Blair said.

Instead, the players stayed for more than an hour. “We played knee hockey with him,” Ben Strinden said. “We pretended it was Minnesota vs. UND. I think Jags scored eight goals.”

While visiting, the players each put on #JAGGSSTRONG wristbands.  “We weren’t thinking they’d even wear them,” Mike said. “Then the whole team wore them all season.”

“Jags was part of our team this year,” Ben said. “ His and his family’s support mean everything to us.”

Throughout the season, the family spotted the green wristbands everywhere. E.J. Emery wore one while flashing a “W” sign on television. Will Zellers wore one during an interview. Before every game, head coach Dane Jackson texted Mike a photo of his own wristband.

For Coach Jackson, supporting Jagger was simply part of what the program represents.

“It’s a two-way street,” he said. “We have awesome fans, and we appreciate the support they give our team. When someone in our hockey family is going through something difficult, we want them to know we’re behind them. Character and leadership are important values in our program, and this was one way we could show that support.”

On a recruiting visit to Seattle, Dane took the early morning flight, allowing for lots of time to visit Jagger, who spent nearly a year receiving treatment in Seattle.

“It helps Jagger to know there are people 1,000 miles away rooting him on,” Mike said. 

Support came from former players as well. Brock Boeser sent an autographed jersey, while Dave Hakstol, Brock Nelson, Jonathan Toews and Ryan Duncan also reached out with jerseys, notes and video messages.

“Jagger has a closet, like totally full, of UND stuff,” said his older sister, Brinkley. “He never wears any of it.”

“I gotta keep them fresh,” Jagger said.

Family Shows Up

Blair appreciates the maturity and kindness the UND hockey team has shown her son. “These are college boys,” Blair said. “They’re supporting some kid they barely know. We are so grateful for the love and compassion.”

Ben Strinden, whose father passed away from cancer last summer, understands how important support can be.

“Family shows up when times get hard,” he said. “You never want someone to feel like they’re going through things alone. Hopefully, something as simple as wearing a wristband brought joy to Jags and his family.

“The UND family is with Jags, and always will be.”