Seattle Kraken
The Seattle Kraken and their goaltending tandem, including former Washington Capitals backup netminder Philipp Grubauer, made a young fan’s dream come true during their win over the Vancouver Canucks yesterday, showing once more why hockey is more than what happens on the ice.
The Kraken, in their second season in the NHL, welcomed Jackson Boboth, a nine-year old who is battling leukemia, to their practice facility on Tuesday, where the young Kraken fan (whose favorite player is Grubauer) donned custom-made pads and goaltending gear, working alongside Grubauer and Martin Jones in the Seattle net. Ahead of their game against the Canucks, Grubauer took the ice alongside Boboth, who got the opportunity through the Make-A-Wish Foundation to become a member of the team. The young fan was diagnosed with the much-maligned disease when he was just seven years of age and has undergone some aggressive treatments that have involved chemotherapy and blood transfusions.
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Jackson took on Seattle’s star rookie Matty Beniers, sporting a Kraken Reverse Retro sweater.
Things you LOVE to see!
The @SeattleKraken welcoming 9-year old @MakeAWish kid Jackson to skate with them!Matty Beniers and Martin Jones providing the pointers@komonews pic.twitter.com/SVnHIkc5fJ
— Niko Tamurian (@NikoTamurian) January 24, 2023
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In the locker room of Climate Pledge Arena, Jackson, adorned in a custom home sweater (No. 32) read the starting lineup for Head Coach Dave Hakstol, and after the game, earned the team’s Davy Jones hat as their number one star of the game.
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We tap our sticks to Grubauer and the Kraken and wish Jackson all the best in his fight! Another night in which hockey was more than just a sport, but an escape for a boy who is facing something far greater than most can understand.
By Michael Fleetwood