Lucic gives Onoway family something to cheer about
Oiler signs shirts for children following harrowing house fire back in December
As Edmonton Oilers fans get ready to ring in Round 2 of the Stanley Cup playoffs, one Alberta family is hoping to send a message to one player in particular.
The Hove family, of Onoway, wants to thank Oilers winger Milan Lucic for an unexpected surprise that came just weeks after the family lost nearly everything in a farmhouse fire.
“We haven’t known quite how to thank him,” Lisa Hove said Monday.
Hove, her husband and their four children had just moved in with Hove’s father-in-law in Rich Valley, Alta., when a fire broke out last December.
As the family sat down for dinner, Hove noticed something reflecting off her glasses. The ceiling was on fire.
“Within three hours, the house had went,” said Hove, adding the cause of the fire is still under investigation.
The family went to their neighbour Mike Nistor’s home, where they watched the farmhouse burn to the ground.
The family lost most of their possessions, including the family Christmas tree and stockings already hung for the holidays.
“It’s definitely been one of the most stressful things we’ve had to go through,” Hove said.
“Insurance will help rebuild (my father-in-law’s) house, but he lived there for 24 years and lost many keepsakes and photo albums.”
The children — MaryLynn, 8; Vienna, 7; Hannah, 5; and Jonah, 3 — still received a Christmas surprise thanks to Nistor’s sister, Pamela, and Lucic.
Pamela — a stranger to the Hoves — purchased Oilers T-shirts for the children and was able to relay the ordeal to Lucic, who signed the shirts.
“His sister is friends with some of the Oilers and Lucic offered to sign them,” Hove said.
Now back in Onoway, the Hoves plan to watch the Oilers take on the Anaheim Ducks with the children wearing their T-shirts.
Though the children are just learning about the Oilers, Jonah is especially excited.
“He likes to carry a hockey stick around with him and pretend he’s a hockey player,” Hove said.
The Oilers and Ducks will play Game 1 of the series in Anaheim on Wednesday at 8:30 p.m.