B.C. girl flown to hockey game by NHL players, fundraiser

The friendship between Vancouver Island woman Elsie Simard and Colorado Avalanche ahead Alex Newhook is making waves on social media.

Newhook, who’s presently enjoying within the Stanley Cup playoffs, used to play junior hockey for the Victoria Grizzlies.

It was in B.C.’s capital the place the pair first met.

“I noticed her the primary time she was there,” stated Newhook. “Simply went down and gave her somewhat fist bump.”

Elsie was born untimely, and has spent a lot of her life within the hospital. However whereas she was there, she may at all times rely on a go to from Newhook.

In accordance with Elsie’s household, the hockey rink would assist function her equalizer.

“Inside right here there aren’t any restrictions. She might be similar to anyone else,” stated her mom, Christie Simard.

Sadly, Elsie and Newhook’s friendship took a shift in 2019, when Newhook’s junior hockey profession ended and Elsie and her mom moved from Victoria to Battleford, Sask.

The pair reunited in March when Elsie’s household drove 4 hours to Edmonton to catch their first NHL sport.

The Colorado Avalanche received that sport, and Newhook and Elsie received an opportunity to see one another once more. Quickly after, phrase of their friendship took the highlight.

“My telephone blew up,” stated the woman’s mom.

OFF TO THE PLAYOFFS

An internet fundraiser was shortly arrange, with the aim of sending Elsie to her first NHL playoff sport.

The marketing campaign was a hit, and Elsie flew to Denver final week, with different gamers from the Avalanche pitching in.

“Erik Johnson helped with tickets and lodging,” stated Simard.

The crew received each its video games to maneuver on to the second spherical of the playoffs, and the Simard household says they had been handled like royalty.

However Elsie did not arrive in Denver empty handed.

She introduced the crew handmade bars of cleaning soap since Newhook is her authentic “pungent boy.”

“We introduced pungent hockey boy cleaning soap,” stated Simard.

Elsie’s been making a constructive impression from her roots in Victoria to Colorado.

“She makes everyone else’s world higher round her,” stated Sheryl Williams with the Victoria Grizzlies. “She’s a power.”

And Newhook agrees.

“She’s at all times been a light-weight in my life,” he stated.