The New Jersey Devils had a special guest coach helping them ahead of their Friday home game against the Vancouver Canucks.
Eight-year-old Abdeil Collazo assisted Devils bench boss John Hynes and his staff all day as part of the Hockey Fights Cancer initiative.
Collazo has been battling leukaemia, which thankfully is in remission. He helped Hynes with drills at Friday’s morning skate and even drew up some plays the team might use against the Canucks.
“It’s was fun!” Collazo said of his time at practice. “[Coach Hynes] tells me when to blow the whistle, and I blow the whistle as loud as I can.”
All 31 NHL teams are involved with Hockey Fights Cancer, but the disease hits close to home for the Devils in particular this season as forward Brian Boyle is currently playing with chronic myeloid leukaemia.
Boyle, an alternate captain on the Devils, took the ceremonial faceoff opposite Canucks captain Henrik Sedin. Boyle’s family joined Collazo, who dropped the puck.
Fittingly enough, Boyle scored his second of the season midway through the second frame on the man advantage. You can watch the goal at the top of the page.
“He’s been great,” Hynes said of Collazo. “It’s a great experience for him to come in. The players have really enjoyed it. He blows the whistle really well, so I’ve got some pointers on that. He drew up a nice play for the guys tonight. It’s been awesome.”
Hynes even had Collazo read out the starting lineup prior to the game. Check out some highlights from Collazo’s day below.
https://twitter.com/NJDevils/status/934089438329819138
https://twitter.com/NJDevils/status/934090042695409665
@mjohansson90 is back on the ice for #NJDevils morning skate and chats with Coach Abdiel. #VANvsNJD pic.twitter.com/xK120eZxSl
— New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) November 24, 2017
https://twitter.com/NJDevils/status/934092439505326085
@MilesWood44 has a reason to . Coach Abdiel just bumped him up in the lineup! #HockeyFightsCancer #VANvsNJD pic.twitter.com/myOZXKaFpg
— New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) November 24, 2017
https://twitter.com/NJDevils/status/934099106880000001
Jimmy Hayes is taking good care of the bench boss, hooking him up with a couple twigs! #HockeyFightsCancer pic.twitter.com/5hEk5ubeZR
— New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) November 24, 2017
https://twitter.com/NJDevils/status/934102909540855809
https://twitter.com/NJDevils/status/934158249250746368
I had the chance this morning to interview eight year old Abdeil Collazo, the #NJDevils #HockeyFightsCancer Coach for a Day.
He was my toughest interview yet! pic.twitter.com/SpKAumXWGI
— Amanda Stein (@amandacstein) November 24, 2017
@MattLoug and @AmandaCStein are joined by #HockeyFightsCancer Coach of the Day Abdiel Collazo and give their "Players to Watch" predictions for #VANvsNJD! pic.twitter.com/UXH8YsIiat
— New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) November 24, 2017
https://twitter.com/NJDevils/status/934210014587310085
Coach Abdiel already won tonight's First of the game. #HockeyFightsCancer pic.twitter.com/dL1ovNpr2y
— New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) November 25, 2017
https://twitter.com/NJDevils/status/934212941272027136
https://twitter.com/NJDevils/status/934215489055846401
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