New York Rangers’ goalie Henrik Lundqvist has been great on the ice this season but, that isn’t stopping him from being great off the ice.
All athletes give back to the community but, there is just something about hockey players that is different.
The New York Rangers were given the day off Wednesday following their 5-3 win over the Canadiens Tuesday night and Henrik Lundqvist used that day to do make a kid’s day.
Yesterday on @GMA #NYR Henrik Lundqvist surprised three-time cancer survivor and Blueshirt fan Connor McMahon. #NYRHFC
Learn more about Connor's story: https://t.co/wvgKpv5Etq pic.twitter.com/KXDj6WT41b
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) November 8, 2018
Connor McMahon is a 17-year-old who has been through hell and back. At just three-years-old, he was diagnosed with a form of bone marrow cancer. The cancer returned when he was 12 and one more time at the age of 15. He has been cancer free for the last two years.
Appearing on Good Morning America Wednesday morning, the three-time cancer survivor shared his story with the world along with all of the good he is doing within his community. Connor helps children who are fighting cancer using the same message he used through who his battle, hope.
Hockey served as an escape for McMahon, who is a big New York Rangers fan. On the show, Mika Zibanejad, Marc Staal, and Chris Kreider sent the 17-year-old a message of support along with inviting him and his family to the Garden for a game. But, then the biggest surprise of all unfolded.
McMahon played goalie, and his favorite player is Henrik Lundqvist. Lundqvist was unable to appear in the video and decided to meet McMahon and his family on the show.
Along with the invite to the Garden, Lundqvist presented McMahon with two jerseys both with Lundqvist’s number 30 on the back. The first jersey had Lundqvist’s name on the back, but the second saw McMahon’s.
The Rangers and Lundqvist have been known to work with charities over the years giving kids opportunities they would have never thought they would get.
The team, along with the New York Knicks, sets apart nights on their MSG broadcast for a telethon for the Garden of Dreams Foundation.
So, look for Connor and his family to be at the Garden sometime soon as the Rangers and Lundqvist continue to do what they do best, give back to the community.
