A birthday present has come early for one young Morell resident.
Rylan MacLean, who turns eight on Dec. 12, will soon get to watch the Charlottetown Islanders play this season — for free.
The Guardian, in partnership with the Charlottetown Islanders, held a photo contest last month asking readers to submit their hockey photos and then selected two winners.
The photos submitted included everything from sporting an Islanders jersey to playing the game to cheering on the sidelines.
Rylan’s mother, Jovanna, won a set of passes with the photo she took of her son in his hockey gear.
MacLean said her son “absolutely loves hockey” and loves the Islanders.
“He’s beyond thrilled to have won,” she said. “(It’s) such an amazing opportunity to be given.”
Rylan, who has been playing the game for four years, enjoys being a goalie with the Novice A Morell Mustangs.
MacLean said the hockey program brings a lot of positive benefits to the young players.
“What I like most about having a child in the hockey program is the memories they gain from it and the lifelong friends they make,” she said. “It is such a great experience for them to get out there and learn to play as a team. They have so much fun.”
Island resident Tonia Penny has also won a set of Islanders season passes for the photo she submitted of her nephew, 8-year-old Mason MacKenzie, son of Tina Penny and Roy MacKenzie of Vernon Bridge.
Mason, she said, is an avid hockey fan who loves the Islanders and was lucky enough to have his photo taken a couple of years ago with former Islanders assistant captain Ross Johnston, his favourite player at the time.
When looking for a photo to submit, Penny went to the Facebook page of her sister, Tina, who is also Mason’s mother, where she found and submitted the winning photo.
“It’s going to be a surprise, he doesn’t know yet. I haven’t even told my sister yet.”
Penny said she’s looking forward to bringing her nephew to the games.
Jason Malloy, The Guardian’s sports editor, is happy to see two fans will have the opportunity to catch the team play for the rest of the season.
“The Islanders are having a great year, playing as a team and getting results by working hard and buying into the roles the coaching staff has developed for them,” he said.
“It is a collection of young men that the team’s fans have really got behind this season. I think the fact that you know you’re getting an honest, hard-working effort each time they hit the ice has hit home with the fan base.”
He said the contest is another way The Guardian is giving back to the community.
“We are pleased to be able to get these tickets into the hands of fans who can enjoy them as the hockey season heats up.”
