Keaton Hamin, age 9, loves cheering on the Winnipeg Jets, and now Jets fans are cheering for Keaton after what he did on Sunday following Winnipeg’s 5-2 win over the Los Angeles Kings.
“It makes me feel really happy,” said Keaton.
It all unfolded inside MTS Centre on Jets TV during the presentation of the game’s 3 stars.
It’s become tradition for each star to give a fan a signed Jets’ stick.
Second star Tyler Myers tossed his stick to Keaton and then Keaton took care of the rest.
"He gave me the stick,” Keaton said. “And I asked my dad, ‘Dad, can I go give the stick to Alyx?’”
Alyx, as in 7-year-old Alyx Delaloye of Neepawa, who was diagnosed with leukemia in July.
She’s the same girl who brought fans to their feet last week with her sign 'Chemo by day, Jets by night.'
Keaton’s dad, Ken Hamin, asked his son if he was sure about giving Alyx the stick.
Keaton said he wanted to help.
“I said yes, and then I went up and gave it to her,” said Keaton.
"I just felt bad for her that she had cancer."
Alyx was back at Sunday's game thanking fans for their support and to meet the team.
After Keaton gave her the stick, she thanked him with a hug.
By phone from Neepawa, Alyx's mom, Jody Delaloye, told Ken she wanted his son to keep the stick but Keaton insisted Alyx take it home.
"She(Alyx) told me to say that it made her day,” said Delaloye.
Hamin said his son has a big heart.
"Tears welled up because I thought, wow, that's such a special thing because there's so many kids out there vying for a stick from the Jets,” said Hamin. “All the autographs on there made the stick even more special."
The two families now plan to take in a Jets game together.
While Keaton was excited to get the stick he said he'd do the same thing again and has a message for Alyx.
"Stand strong and you'll make it through," said Keaton.
