Jack is an avid hockey fan and player who loves the speed and intensity of the sport. He plays for his local team, the Foothill Flyers, and is a menace on the ice! When he was diagnosed with cancer at age four, it didn’t stop him from playing hockey in the halls of the hospital! “He was dealt a tough deck of cards for someone his age, but his strength shone through,” Jack’s dad said proudly.
When Make-A-Wish Colorado asked what he wanted to wish for, he knew he wanted to become a hockey player for his favorite team, the Colorado Avalanche!
The Stanley Cup-winning team pulled out all the stops to make Jack’s wish spectacular for him and his entire family. He toured the Av’s locker room and was surprised to not only find a jersey with his name on it, but also his own locker next to his favorite player, Nathan MacKinnon!
Jack idolizes Nathan MacKinnon. He plays center because that is MacKinnon’s position. He can’t take his eyes off his favorite player when he’s on the ice, and even goes out of his way to watch his interviews! “I like the way MacKinnon sees the game,” Jack said about why he is his favorite.
When the one-and-only Nathan MacKinnon walked into the locker room with a fist outstretched, Jack immediately ran over to bump it! MacKinnon gave Jack and his sister a tour of the locker room, prompting his sister to exclaim, “He’s my favorite player, too!”
Jack donned his jersey and collected signatures and posed for pictures with all his favorite players: J.T. Compher, Logan O’Connor, Alex Newhook – even Avalanche manager and Wish Granter Joe Sakic came by to meet Jack! He was the star of the show.
At the Avalanche game that evening, Jack’s hockey team came out to surprise him, running up to him holding signs with his name on them and enveloping him in a massive group hug! Jack’s grin took over his entire face as he greeted his best friends and teammates who were there to support his big night.
Then, it was the moment he’d been waiting for…. Jack suited up with his new jersey, stick and skates to hit the ice with the team for warm-ups in front of a roaring hometown crowd! The arena erupted when he followed MacKinnon onto the ice and nearly drowned out the announcer when he was introduced as a team member!
His wish marked four and a half years since Jack was diagnosed and was the culmination of his journey. “It’s a celebration of everything Jack overcame and everything Jack is,” his mom said.
You can celebrate Jack and wish kids like him at Make-A-Wish Colorado’s upcoming event, Whiskey, Wine & Wishes on April 10 at Mission Ballroom! Guests will enjoy wish stories, live music and auctions, and an award presentation to Wish Hero honoree, the Colorado Avalanche! Special guests from the Avalanche will accept the award on the team’s behalf.
Learn more and buy tickets here. Can’t join in person? You can still browse the auction or donate to the event!
