It was a wide open net for wish kid Max, 6, when he first bounded onto his new roller hockey skating rink in his backyard, so excited that he almost missed his special guest – Arizona Coyotes mascot Howler!

“Howler was here at my hockey rink,” said Max. “He was here to play some hockey with me.”

Max, who has a very rare heart condition that has required two open heart surgeries and will need lifelong monitoring, is a huge hockey fan. He has been playing hockey almost since he could walk and cheering on his older brother in the stands. 

Prior to his second heart surgery, Max played hockey on a 6u team with AZ Ice Peoria. But the chances of Max playing hockey with a team are limited due to the aggressive nature of the sport — concerns about checking and his endurance due to his heart function keep him in a supportive role. 

“Hockey is something Max can’t always do at a speed that the teams can do,” said Erica, Max’s mom. “His cardiologist hasn’t cleared him for checking so he will have to stop playing with the recreational teams after age 12. He also could never play nearly as strenuously as his brother does at any age level, so we started thinking about how having a rink where he could pace himself would be a great wish.”

Max, of course, knows he’s the best on his rink. 

Plus, thanks to special surprise gifts from Howler and the Arizona Coyotes, Max will be playing in style with the gift of a helmet, skates, jerseys and lots of sticks! 

The Coyotes were not the only community partner that helped turn Max’s wish vision into a reality. From permitting assistance from the City of Peoria, to the rink foundation from Suntec Concrete and finally with General Acrylics for the hockey flooring, D1 Backyard Rinks for the boards, and AllPro Fencing for the perimeter, Max’s rink was truly a team effort.

“We are always grateful for our community partners but with this unique wish came unique needs and every company we called was more than willing to help make Max’s wish come true,” said Matthew, Max’s wish manager. 

“It has been amazing, watching it all come together. We know Max’s surgeries are not a cure but this has been a magical morning, and having this rink out here for him to play, allows us to do everything we can to enjoy every day together,” Erica said. 

Max agrees with his mom. 

“I’m going to be on my rink and play all day,” he said. “I won’t need to come in.”