Flyers fanatics
Summerside boy receives package from fellow Philadelphia fan in New Jersey
Tiny feet stomp their way up porch steps, as the side door swings open.
“It’s here, it’s here,” yells seven-year-old Ben DesRoche as he runs to the kitchen table. He picks up the large brown box. “Look it’s here,” he says again.
Tape is torn from the box as he opens the flaps, which reveal the best present ever.
“Isn’t this cool,” Ben says as he looks at the layers of NHL Philadelphia Flyers memorabilia.
It started a few weeks ago, when fans thought forward Wayne Simmonds scored a hat trick early in a game against the Colorado Avalanche. “Fans threw 396 hats on the ice in celebration,” explained Ben’s father Bradley, who, along with Ben, is a Flyers fans. Turns out it wasn’t a hat trick, because Jakub Voracek had actually scored the goal. So later, the Flyers posted on their Facebook page saying Voracek would donate 396 hats to children’s hospitals across the country.
When Bradley saw it, he commented
“I’m very glad this happened and I’m sure we’ll be friends for life.” Elmer Tate, fellow Flyers fan who lives in New Jersey.
saying his son would love one of those hats. Elmer Tate of Stone Harbour, N.J., saw Bradley’s post and added his own comment. “Please message me your address; I have a hat and jacket for him,” stated the comment.
At first Bradley was afraid it might be a hoax, but after talking to Tate and seeing a picture of the package ready for shipment, he knew it was real.
“It was incredible. He called us on video messenger and we talked about hockey. He told Ben to play hard and practise and that good things would happen,” said Bradley.
He continued, “It’s nice to see, with what has been happening in some areas of the States, that this total stranger would send all of
this to a seven year old in P.E.I.” After opening the package Tuesday morning, Ben and his family video-called Tate to thank him.
“Go Flyers,” Ben said when Tate answered.
He added “Thank you. I’ll play hard and grow into the jersey.”
Ben is a first year novice A player with the Evangeline Flyers and wants to play for Philadelphia when he gets older. “Now all we need is to go to a game,” said Ben with a laugh. As for Tate, he sent Ben the Flyers garb because he wanted to make the little boy smile.
“It’s all about helping the children. I’m very glad this happened and I’m sure we’ll be friends for life,” said Tate.
“I like to help others and provide a young hockey player with some motivation and be a part of an opportunity I never had.”