7-year-old boy with cystic fibrosis gets to skate with Connor Bedard, Blackhawks
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Regardless of the outcome of the Blackhawks' game against the heavily-favored Edmonton Oilers Wednesday night, it was a winning night for one young 'Hawks fan whose Make-A-Wish dream came true.
Lennox Hodgkinson, 7, of Nova Scotia, was dressed all in Blackhawks gear for what his dad described as better-than-once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. He got to skate with Connor Bedard and the Blackhawks at their morning skate Wednesday.
"It was really fun out there," Lennox said.
It was really fun for Bedard too.
"It's cool," Bedard said. "You know, you kind of think about how surreal it must be for him, obviously. He got to be on an NHL rank and skate with us, and you know, we love it. We have a lot of fun with that."
Lennox was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at just 3 years old. According to his mom, that means daily physiotherapy, and nebulizer treatments, among other medications, and his growth is affected as well. But it hasn't held him back on the ice or in life.
"He's amazing. Like every challenge that is presented to him, he does it with a brave face," said Cindy Hodgkinson. "He's a hero.
And Bedard has been Lennox's sports hero, since Lennox watched Bedard play at the World Juniors in Halifax.
"He does really good, and I like him," said Lennox.
Despite battling cystic fibrosis, Lennox still plays on an advance youth hockey team back in Canada — and count Bedard himself among those impressed with Lennox's skating skills.
"We were talking about it. He's like 7 years old, and he was ripping the pill a little bit," Bedard said, "so it's cool to see."
Lennox's mom said her son was actually a little under the weather Wednesday, but there was no way he was missing the opportunity to skate with Bedard — or missing many shots either.
