The Toronto Maple Leafs hosted Canadian Armed Forces Appreciation Night at Scotiabank Arena, Saturday. It turned out to be a very emotional evening.
The Maple Leafs honored the family of Corporal Jeremy Hillson during the ceremonial puck drop. Cpl. Hillson’s wife Jennifer, daughter Dakota, and son Mason joined Penguins captain Sidney Crosby and Leafs alternate captain Morgan Rielly at center ice. After a video message by Cpl. Hillson, the family was set to drop the puck — except there was one tiny problem: nobody had the ceremonial puck.
Get your tissues ready. This may be the best military family reunion ever.
Video
“Hey, Leafs fans and fellow Canadian Armed Forces members at the game tonight,” Corporal Jeremy Hillson said on the jumbotron. “I’m currently deployed to Iraq. I wanted to take this opportunity to thank the Toronto Maple Leafs organization and their fans for honoring and supporting military members. Jenn, thank you so much for everything you do to support me and for holding down the fort while I’ve been away.”
Jennifer began to cry.
“Mason and Dakota, I miss you guys tons. I love all three of you so much. I can’t wait to see you all again soon. Go, Leafs, go!”
It was at that point the military realized, as a rouse, that no one had the puck.
“You have the puck,” the military member asks Jennifer.
“Nope,” she replies.
He asks Rielly and Crosby. Neither of them have it either.
And it’s that very moment when Cpl. Jeremy Hillson walks out and surprises his family, puck in hand.
After the family shares a long loving embrace, Cpl. Hillson dropped the puck along with his daughter Dakota.
There wasn’t a dry eye in the house.
“It’s pretty special when you’ve got two little kids out there and you get to see your dad walk out and just the reaction of the place,” Leafs head coach Mike Babcock said. “I thought it was really cool.”
The Leafs also honored Canadian Armed Forces members by wearing special green military jerseys.
Getting ready for a Saturday showdown.
(You may not be able to see the Leafs in their camo but trust us, they’re out there.) #LeafsForever pic.twitter.com/5R58Z3HJEh
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) February 3, 2019
After the game, Leafs players signed autographs and took photos with the military members on the ice.
A chance to meet the incredible members of the @CanadianForces who joined us at tonight’s Canadian Armed Forces Appreciation Night.#LeafsForever pic.twitter.com/PhJ9a8i3VC
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) February 3, 2019
Signatures and selfies at Canadian Armed Forces Appreciation Night.#LeafsForever pic.twitter.com/nDCws5oaiS
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) February 3, 2019
Headline photo: @NHL
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