Devils' Miles Wood receives autograph ten years in the making 2
Apr 9, 2016; Newark, NJ, USA; New Jersey Devils left wing Miles Wood (44) skates against the Toronto Maple Leafs during the third period at Prudential Center. The Devils defeated the Maple Leafs 5-1. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports

After a ten year wait, Devils’ rookie Miles Wood finally receives an autograph from his favorite hockey player Alexander Ovechkin.

As children, we all grow up hoping to get an autograph from our favorite players.

Wide-eyed and full of hope, children often dream of joining their sports heroes one day as professionals. New Jersey Devils rookie right winger Miles Wood was one of those children.

In 2006, an 11-year-old Miles Wood sent a self-addressed stamped envelope along with a hockey card looking for an autograph to his favorite hockey player, Alexander Ovechkin.

According to Wood’s father through Barry Petchesky of deadspin.com the note said: “If you don’t sign this and send it back to me, when I make it to the NHL, I’m going to give you a big body check.”

The response never came. So Miles Wood made good on his promise to make the NHL.

Word of the letter from the past came to the surface as the New Jersey Devils prepared to face Ovechkin’s team, the Washington Capitals, on Thursday night.

With Wood in the lineup, Ovechkin may not have wanted the “big body check” that an 11-year-old had promised to deliver ten years ago, and sent a signed photo over to the Devils’ locker room.

That wouldn’t be the end of it, though. After the Devils handed the Washington Capitals a 2-1 shootout loss, Ovechkin headed over to meet with the 21-year-old right winger.

Ovechkin even apologized to Wood about neglecting to return the signed card. There is a lesson to be learned from this. Be sure to fulfill your promises to get what you want.

Sports have always been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. Born in Queens, New York, I took to the Mets and the Jets at a young age, and actually have a video of myself reciting the 1986 Mets 25-man roster at age 3. Covering New York Sports is a dream come true. After attending the Connecticut School of Broadcasting, I was able to fully realise my potential of turning my liking for sports into a career that I love.