Ice hockey fan battling cancer leads Glasgow Clan in post-match celebration
A YOUNG cancer patient has fulfilled a dream of experiencing an ice hockey match in Scotland – by leading the Glasgow Clan in their post-match victory celebrations.
Zac White started the ‘thunderclap’ following the Clan’s 5-2 win over Manchester Storm at Braehead Arena just weeks after leaving hospital following seven months of treatment for a rare and aggressive form of the condition.
The five-year-old, originally from Bracknell, London, told charity Rays of Sunshine his ambition was to take in a game North of the Border, hear bagpipes played live and hunt for the Loch Ness monster while undergoing stem cell treatment for acute myeloid leukemia (AML).
Zac, who became an ice hockey fan while watching local side Bracknell Bees, was carried onto the ice by Candian defender Linden Springer and hoisted into the air to lead the celebrations in front of more than 3000 fans.
And dad Mark admitted the family are now “Clan fans for life” after the match, promising to take Zac to their clash with Guildford flames near their home.
Mark, 40, said: “It was just the most amazing day, it was really emotional to see everybody come together, people you don’t know, people you have never met, all coming together to give our little boy a once in a lifetime experience.”
“He was given the all clear to leave hospital eight weeks ago and the charity asked if he had anything he wanted to do. He just said that he wanted to go to Scotland, hear bagpipes and watch the ice hockey.
Zac met the players from both teams pre-match, received a signed shirt and even gave his own team talk to the home side ahead of the puck drop.