Men's Ice Hockey Team Making an IMPACT

On November 17 the PSU men's varsity ice hockey team officially welcomed 9-year-old Tyler Carson, from Franklin, NH to their team through the Team IMPACT Organization.

Participants in Team IMPACT come from all sorts of medical backgrounds. Most are battling or have recently battled a life-threatening illness that has impaired them physically, academically, socially, and/or psychologically.

The program is centered around enhancing a child's quality of life and filling their lives with more love and laughter. The child gets the opportunity to attend the team's practices and games, and receive team apparel, and get treated like another member of the team.

Members of the athletic team regularly keep in touch with the child, which include making visits to the hospitals, and wishing them well before and after different tests and treatments. 

In August 2011 Tyler was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma - a malignant bone tumor that typically develops during a period of rapid growth. Doctors found a tumor on Tyler's left femur. Osteosarcoma is the most common type of bone cancer in children and adolescents.

He began his chemotherapy regiment in September 2011. This past January Tyler had surgery to remove the effected part of his leg, and was replaced with a donor femur.

Tyler makes visits to the rink to take part in some of the men's practices, and home games. He also gets the chance to hang out and play around with the players.

"He comes to at least one practice a week and the team really lights up when he's around," said Head Coach Craig Russell.

"We try our best to make him enjoy himself and allow him to forget about the treatments he's undergoing for a few hours. He's still a little shy around us right now, but he's starting to come out of his shell and looks like he's really enjoying being around the boys," said junior defenseman Dave Walters.

Tyler is a true inspiration to the team, and everyone he comes in contact with. "We see this 9 year old boy battling through something like this, it really puts everything into perspective for us," said Walters.

"I think that everyone is really excited to be a part of Tyler's battle and we really want to do whatever we can to make it a little bit easier for him," said Walters.

The team recently held a mock press conference for Tyler's "draft day" where he was introduced to the team, and given his own Plymouth State gear including a jersey, hat, and stick, and answered questions the team had for him.   

"Some of the guys dressed up in suits and acted like the media, and asked him a few questions it was pretty cool," said senior defenseman Richard Zobak.

The team decided to get involved with Team IMPACT because of the great cause, and the rewarding experience it provides the team and selected child.

It took Tyler a little while to get acclimated with the team, and break out of his shell. Ever since then, he has really blossomed, and opened up to the team.

"Tyler is awesome. He is starting to loosen up everyday that he comes around and is starting to become one of the guys. It is amazing to see how positive he is everyday and that has really started to rub off on us," said Zobak.

Tyler has to walk around with a leg brace due to his condition, but nothing seems to hold this kid back, "Every time he gets to the rink he starts stick handling around the building without a care in the world," said Russell. 

In most cases, someone usually knows someone in their circle of friends or family that know someone who has been affected by cancer or a medical condition.

"Every time he is in the building Tyler can put a smile on your face, I know for myself every time I see him come into the locker room, on the bench or even in the stands he puts one on my face," said senior defenseman Phil Moore.

Tyler is only 9 years old, and has endured more than most people will in a lifetime. He missed all of 2nd grade as a result of his chemotherapy treatments, and had to change schools to one that could accommodate children with disabilities. 

He has lost the ability to play sports ever again, and as a 9-year-old kid, that's something difficult to grasp. "You wouldn't know it with the way Tyler rips around the rink with his stick and pucks.  His Mom is always telling him to slow down, but being a typical boy, he doesn't like to listen to Mom with that sort of stuff," said Russell.

In the near future the team plans on having Tyler drop a ceremonial puck before a home game, and have him attend the team banquet as a member of the team at the end of the season. In the meantime the team stands by Tyler, and supports him in any way they can. Tyler has really impacted the team, as much as they have impacted him, if not more.

"For our team to see the charisma and willing to do anything attitude that Tyler has, makes them realize that their problems of being a college student aren't that bad.  When we start to stray from our plans every day, all it takes is a glance at Tyler (if he's there), or a slight mention of his name for the guys to really change their attitudes and push through, just like Tyler has been doing," said Russell.

A special thanks goes out to the Children's Hospital at Dartmouth, Camp Sunshine and Head Coach Chris Russell & team, as well as Tyler and his family for making this match possible.

"Having Tyler as a part of our team and family is extremely humbling. It really makes me appreciate how blessed I am to be where I am today. It makes me happy to know how just spending a short amount of time with a young kid can change his entire day, week, and month, and mine," said sophomore forward Michael Freitag.