NHL players help send B.C. hockey fan to first playoff game
The friendship between Vancouver Island girl Elsie Simard and Colorado Avalanche forward Alex Newhook is making waves on social media.
Newhook, who's currently playing in the Stanley Cup playoffs, used to play junior hockey for the Victoria Grizzlies.
It was in B.C.'s capital where the pair first met.
"I saw her the first time she was there," said Newhook. "Just went down and gave her a little fist bump."
Elsie was born premature, and has spent much of her life in the hospital. But while she was there, she could always count on a visit from Newhook.
According to Elsie's family, the hockey rink would help serve as her equalizer.
"Inside here there are no restrictions. She can be just like anybody else," said her mother, Christie Simard.
Sadly, Elsie and Newhook's friendship took a shift in 2019, when Newhook's junior hockey career ended and Elsie and her mother moved from Victoria to Battleford, Sask.
The pair reunited in March when Elsie's family drove four hours to Edmonton to catch their first NHL game.
The Colorado Avalanche won that game, and Newhook and Elsie got a chance to see each other again. Soon after, word of their friendship took the spotlight.
"My phone blew up," said the girl's mother.
OFF TO THE PLAYOFFS
An online fundraiser was quickly set up, with the purpose of sending Elsie to her first NHL playoff game.
The campaign was a success, and Elsie flew to Denver last week, with other players from the Avalanche pitching in.
"Erik Johnson helped with tickets and accommodation," said Simard.
The team won both its games to move on to the second round of the playoffs, and the Simard family says they were treated like royalty.
But Elsie didn't arrive in Denver empty handed.
She brought the team handmade bars of soap since Newhook is her original "stinky boy."
"We brought stinky hockey boy soap," said Simard.
Elsie's been making a positive impact from her roots in Victoria to Colorado.
"She makes everybody else's world better around her," said Sheryl Williams with the Victoria Grizzlies. "She's a force."
And Newhook agrees.
"She's always been a light in my life," he said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Ottawa driver who appeared to be racing another vehicle on Highway 416 facing charges
The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) says an Ottawa driver is facing charges after being caught going 187 km/h on Highway 416.
Helicopter carrying Iran's hard-line president apparently crashes in foggy, mountainous region
A helicopter carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, the country's foreign minister and other officials apparently crashed in the mountainous northwest reaches of Iran on Sunday, sparking a massive rescue operation in a fog-shrouded forest as the public was urged to pray.
Canadian immigration asks medical worker fleeing Gaza if he treated Hamas fighters
Lawyers are questioning Canada’s approach to screening visa applications for people in Gaza with extended family in Canada after one applicant, a medical worker, was asked whether he had treated members of Hamas.
4 homes lost due to wildfire near Fort Nelson, B.C.
A wildfire burning near Fort Nelson, B.C., completely destroyed four homes and damaged six more properties, according to an update from the Northern Rockies Regional Municipality.
Walmart, Costco refusing to sign grocery code of conduct 'untenable': industry minister
Industry Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne says it's 'untenable' for 'smaller players' like Walmart and Costco to delay signing on to the government- and industry-led grocery code of conduct, now that industry giant Loblaw has agreed to do so.
VIDEO Born without front legs, this dog has been inspiring the world for 3 years: Dresden farm owner
A sanctuary dedicated to animals with disabilities is celebrating the third birthday of one of its most popular residents.
'A horrible way to start the summer': 3 killed in serious boat crash on lake north of Kingston, Ont.
Three people were killed and five others were injured Saturday night following a boat crash on the Buck Bay area of Bobs Lake, north of Kingston, Ont., the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) said.
French security forces work to regain control of airport highway in violence-scorched New Caledonia
Using armoured vehicles and backhoes to shove aside charred barricades, French security forces worked Sunday to retake control of the highway to the international airport in violence-scorched New Caledonia, shuttered because of deadly unrest wracking the French Pacific archipelago where indigenous people have long sought independence from France.
Diddy admits beating ex-girlfriend Cassie, says he's sorry, calls his actions 'inexcusable'
Sean 'Diddy' Combs admitted Sunday that he beat his ex-girlfriend in a hotel hallway in 2016 after CNN released video of the attack, saying in a video apology he was 'truly sorry' and his actions were 'inexcusable.'