Back in late March, Tuukka Rask and the Boston Bruins welcomed a special guest to one of their practices – 9-year-old Topfield, Mass., native Maddie Santosuosso.
The team joined forces with the Make-A-Wish Foundation to help let Santuosuosso, who suffers from stage IV sarcoma, a rare tissue cancer, take the ice with her favorite team and play goalie alongside Rask, her favorite player.
As a part of her special day, the team presented Maddie with some new goalie gear — all the same as Rask’s, except the mask. Maddie wore a red goalie mask during practice because Rask’s headgear is the custom work of artist Ron Slater, and Rask didn’t happen to have a replica to give to Maddie.
Until now.
After spending the day with Maddie, the Bruins goaltender called in a favor and had a mask commissioned especially for his new teammate. The new mask is nearly identical to the one Rask wears, but is customized with Maddie’s name on the chin and the words “Kick Sarcoma” on the back.
Check out photos of Maddie’s new mask below:
[h/t @CapitalsHill]
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