A One Day Contract

By Rochelle Bergman

Announced right before the game by the head coach Peter Horachek, a new team member signed his contract for one day. The date of the game was Saturday March 28th, 2015. The new member came from Duck Lake Saskatchewan, in Canada. He got to pick his jersey number so he picked 42 and Tyler Bozak was ok with it. Bozak picked number 32 for the Saturday night game. Besides getting 42 on his jersey, the new guy got printed “G-Man” on the jersey. Who is this G-guy? Why haven’t we heard about him? Contract for one day?

The team: the Toronto Maple Leafs against the Ottawa Senators

The new team member was 11-year-old Garrett Gamble. Another Saskatchewan native and past leaf captain, Wendal Clark brought Garrett out on the ice and skated with him around the rink. Then in the middle of the ice rink Garrett dropped the puck as the team captains for the two teams looked on. Pictures were taken and tears were shed by many. A standing ovation after the puck was dropped was taken up by fans, team members and the players. My eyes got a bit moist too.

The Make-A-Wish-Foundation got this amazing day together for Garrett and his family. Garrett has Morquio Syndrome. It affects the skeletal development of the person. Its incurable and can lead to an early death.

Two miracles happened on that day. First was the fact that Garrett was there and he had one of his wishes come true. The other miracle was for him and the other Leaf fans. The Leafs broke their seven game losing streak on that night. Who was blamed for that? A hat trick from Bozak, that’s who! I don’t know who to hug, Garrett or Bozak? One of them was the lucky thing to change the team’s luck. Maybe it was the fact that  Tyler changed numbers on his jersey? Maybe 32 is better for him? Or it could be that Garrett is lucky on the ice? It could be that they both mix their luck together and unknown to each other, a win is granted. Maybe Tyler should keep the new number for a while to see what happens? Maybe the “G-MAN” is full of hockey luck? I really don’t know. All I know is that the game was great to watch. The Leafs finally won a game and a boy got to fulfil a wish. Isn’t that what hockey is all about?