Giguere suprises teen with Make-A-Wish appearance

Fan-favorite Jean-Sebastien Giguere posted a 5-4-4 record with the Avalanche this season.

Dustin Bradford/Icon SMI

DENVER (AP) -- Teenager Logan Piz's request was simply to spend the day with the Stanley Cup trophy. Hanging out with Colorado Avalanche goaltender Jean-Sebastien Giguere as well?

Hey, he will gladly take that, too. This was certainly an experience Piz won't soon forget, a day made possible through the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

The 13-year-old was completely surprised when the trophy was brought into his hospital room Wednesday. Later, he had a surprise of his own: Joining his hockey team on the ice for his first practice since being diagnosed with a form of bone cancer called Ewing's sarcoma nearly six months ago.

And who should show up? Giguere, of course, one of Piz's favorite players.

The National Hockey League, Discover and Make-A-Wish teamed up to grant the request of Piz, who always had a hankering to hold the trophy. But not kiss the Cup or hoist it over his head.

No, that's reserved only for NHL players who win the title.

"Now that's the real dream,'' chuckled Piz, who's basically been on skates since he was 2. "But this was pretty dang close. I was so surprised. I had no idea.''

He reveled in being back on the ice with his buddies at the Apex Center in his hometown of Arvada. He even put on his old gear - "My mom says it still smells horrible,'' he said - and took a few shots, too. Not on Giguere, though, who just brought his skates.

"Didn't really hit the net much,'' said Piz, who's being treated at The Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children in Denver. "I need to get back and work on my shooting a little bit.''

To see Giguere on the ice made his day - and Giguere's as well.

"It's an honor to be part of this,'' Giguere said. "His look was pretty priceless. He was pretty stunned and didn't know what to think.

"His wish was to be able to share the Cup with the rest of the community, the rest of his teammates, his family, all of his cousins. He's such a good, young man, thinking of other people even though he's going through what he's going through.''

Holding the Cup and hanging out with Giguere - the moments certainly touched his parents.

"There are no words to describe how incredible everyone has been,'' said his mom, Tammy. "It's really far beyond anything we thought or dreamed about.''

The entire day seemed almost surreal for Piz.

"It was really cool, especially because my team and my buddies didn't really know what was going on,'' Piz said. "When they saw the Cup, they were shocked. It was great. It was just really fun.''