EDMONTON – The Edmonton Oilers anthem singer who has become a fan favourite for belting out O Canada in the stands with fans says he has leukemia.
Robert Clark, in a video posted online, says he’ll be going through treatment starting next month and hopes not to miss too many games.
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He says he has been diagnosed with hairy cell leukemia, which he describes as treatable and sounding “worse than it is.”
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The Canadian Cancer Society says hairy cell leukemia is a relatively rare form of a cancer that affects white blood cells, a key part of the immune system that helps fight off infections.
The professionally trained opera singer gained prominence nearly a decade ago when he started singing O Canada and the U.S. anthem while standing in the crowd rather than on the ice.
It’s a tradition Clark has continued through the Oilers’ back-to-back Stanley Cup playoff runs.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 20, 2025.
© 2025 The Canadian Press
