While we’re more accustomed to keeping the eyes on Sky’s Transfer Deadline Day coverage this side of the water, one Kilkenny man has secured the transfer of his dreams.
Through the Make A Wish Foundation, Kilkenny native Fionn Daly signed a one-day contract with NHL outfit Calgary Flames. The 9 year old currently plays with Calgary Venom of the Calgary Sledge Hockey Association. When it came to signing the contract and announcing the deal, the Flames really went all the way.
The Flames released a statement through their official website.
“The Calgary Flames announced today that they have signed Fionn Daly to a one-day contract. The nine-year-old is currently playing for the Calgary Venom of the Calgary Sledge Hockey Association.”
“Born in Ireland, Daly moved to Calgary at the age of five. He enjoys playing hockey, skiing and participating in gymnastics.”
“Daly, alongside his two brothers Rhys (age 7) and Hugo (age 5), is expected to participate in today’s Flames practice alongside his favourite players, Calgary Flames captain Mark Giordano and alternate captain Sean Monahan.”
GM Brad Treliving announced the major signing at Flames HQ on Monday.
“It’s an exciting day, an important day here, we’ve got a new player and any time we’ve got a new player we have an announcement here to the media. Fionn’s accompanied here by his father Kelvin, his mother Tina and his brothers Rhys and Hugo. Fionn’s ability is what attracted us to him.”
“He’s also Irish and our boss is big on adding truckulant (sic) Irish to the Calgary Flames so we’re excited to have another Irishman in the fold. He’s very energetic, very happy young guy and loves to talk – especially about the Flames. Last year, Fionn was offered a day trip to Disneyland, but he turned it down as his only wish was to be here with the Flames.”
The family will be gests of the organisation for a 28 February game against the L.A. Kings when a video featuring Fionn’s journey will be shown on the arena’s JumboTron screen.
Speaking to the Flames’ website, father Kelvin noted “All he wanted to do for his Make-A-Wish day was to hang out with the Flames. Initially, you know, my wife and I thought that maybe the Disneyland option would’ve been a good idea. But Fionn wouldn’t hear of that. He just loves hockey so much.”
“Ireland and Canada are similar in that they’re both sport-mad. I think that’s where Fionn gets it. When we first moved here, one of the first things he saw on TV was hockey, and he was mesmerized. From the get-go.
“It’s amazing what hockey’s brought to our lives. We could be at a dinner party with friends, the kids there, too, and we’ll be talking hockey, and questions naturally arise. The adults at the table might not know the answer. So they’ll call Fionn and say ‘Hey, Fionn, which goalie is 31?’ He tells them and then goes back down and plays with his buddies.”
“That’s his thing. The first thing he does in the morning is go on the Flames’ website. After he’s read all about them then he goes on to the next NHL team. Then the next.”
Read the full story here complete with all access photos of Daly’s enounter with the Calgary Flames.
Make-A-Wish® Southern Alberta grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy. Kids say wishes give them renewed strength to fight their illness, and their parents say these experiences help strengthen the entire family. As part of the world’s largest wish-granting organization, Make-A-Wish has granted more than 350,000 wishes to children around the world. Since 1995, the Southern Alberta chapter has granted the wishes of more than 475 local children. Visit makeawishsa.ca to learn more.
