Nine-Year Old Fighting Leukemia Joins Seattle Kraken As A Goaltender, Takes the Ice With Philipp Grubauer, Martin Jones

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.

Jackson took on Seattle’s star rookie Matty Beniers, sporting a Kraken Reverse Retro sweater.

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.

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

About Jon Sorensen

Jon has been a Caps fan since day one, attending his first game at the Capital Centre in 1974. His interest in the Caps has grown over the decades and included time as a season ticket holder. He has been a journalist covering the team for 10+ years, primarily focusing on analysis, analytics and prospect development.
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4 Responses to Nine-Year Old Fighting Leukemia Joins Seattle Kraken As A Goaltender, Takes the Ice With Philipp Grubauer, Martin Jones

  1. Anonymous says:

    Love Grubi! Class dude.

  2. Anonymous says:

    Grubi! That’s awesome.

  3. Joanne says:

    Hockey players and their teams are the best !

  4. Scottlew73 says:

    Hockey players are the most “normal” people in all of professional sports with rodeo being close second. 99 % either come from small communities or areas that may not get a lot fame. I work in Viking,Alberta (Home of the Sutter’s),of the boys,Darryl is only one still living in town,besides his mom. But the thing that amazes me is the less you talk hockey the more talkative he is,mainly because once he’s home he’s somebody else,but if you need someone or something for fundraising he’s first to give!
    It’s the way your brought up through the game,you bring everyone up with you!

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