PLATTSBURGH — A local youth hockey player had his wish come true through the Make-A-Wish Northeast New York chapter.
Local Wish Kid Jackson Lewis-Rodriguez, a 13-year-old from Rouses Point, had the opportunity to meet his favorite National Hockey League team, the Anaheim Ducks, in California.
“I got flown out to California to meet the team, practice with them and I skated them out before a game,” he said.
Jackson signed a “two-day contract” and received his very own Ducks uniform before skating the Ducks onto the ice for their game against the Golden Knights.
“They have been so great to us. They hooked Jackson up with hockey gear, signed merchandise from the team, like sticks and pucks,” Vanessa Lewis-Rodriguez, Jackson’s mother, said.
“Hockey players receive a shadow box of their contract and jersey when they are signed to a team, so they did that for Jackson with his own.”
Jackson also spent the day with members of the NHL team doing a variety of activities including going to an arcade and Universal Studios.
His wish was supposed to be granted in 2020, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, things got put on hold. Jackson did not find out until December of 2022.
“When the Ducks heard he waited for so long, they wanted to do so much for him,” John Rodriguez, Jackson’s father, said.
“They brought him out to a Devils vs. Ducks game.”
North Country Cougar
Jackson himself is a member of the Cougars in the North Country Youth Hockey league in Rouses Point.
“I’ve been into hockey for about 7 years,” Lewis-Rodriguez said.
He was on hand Tuesday to help kick off the 31st annual Adopt-A-Wish Holiday Campaign at the Champlain Centre in Plattsburgh with members of the Plattsburgh State men’s hockey team.
“This is the annual holiday campaign for the Make-A-Wish Northeast New York chapter,” Kirsten Broschinsky, Make-A-Wish Northeast New York Director of Development, said.
“This is the 31st year we are doing this campaign.”
This campaign offers community members the opportunity to donate to the Northeast New York chapter by purchasing paper stars for a suggested donation of $5. Each star represents a wish granted in the 518 and 838 area codes.
“The goal for this particular campaign, this year, is to raise enough money to fund at least 20 wishes. It is key to making sure we have enough money to support each kid’s wish and so far, we have,” Broschinsky said.
According to their website, Make-A-Wish Northeast New York is a nonprofit organization dedicated to granting the wishes of children with critical illnesses across 15 counties in Northeast New York.
Since receiving his wish, Jackson has spent his time off-the-ice helping the Northeast York Chapter set up for events and raising money for other kids to receive wishes.
“I just want to help around and sell these stars,” he said.
Jackson enjoyed the opportunity to meet and chat with Plattsburgh State men’s hockey team members, Kevin Weaver-Vitale and Spencer Bellina who are the team volunteers for the Adopt-A-Wish campaign.
“This is a great cause. We volunteer for this every year because we strive to help the community,” Weaver-Vitale said.
Members of the team volunteer for the campaign annually.
“It is also important to note the holidays are right around the corner so this was a good time to give back to the community,” Bellina said.
The Make-A-Wish Northeast New York chapter will be selling stars at the Champlain Centre, Colonie Center and Crossgates Mall from Tuesday, Nov. 28 through Saturday, Dec. 23.
One-time or monthly donations can also be made online at http://www.adoptawishny.org/.