Sylvia Rodegher glided across the ice, made a few quick moves, and scored on Cam Talbot, earning cheers from the players, who congratulated her with stick taps and fist bumps.
Dylan Larkin later presented Sylvia with a one-day contract to join the Detroit Red Wings.
The Red Wings were all smiles on Saturday after practice, fulfilling a dream for the 10-year-old from Grand Rapids, thanks to the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
“She went to her forehand a few times, then came back around and I thought, ‘She should probably switch to the backhand,’” Larkin said. “Without me saying anything, she did exactly that. She fooled Talbs. It was fun to watch. Maybe we should’ve gone to the other end of the rink so she could show our defense a thing or two.”
After skating with the team, Sylvia changed out of her gear in the locker room while her No. 16 Red Wings jersey was hung in a stall. She then chatted with Larkin and later joined him at the podium, where he surprised her with the one-day contract. She signed two copies—one for herself and one for the team.
Dylan Larkin presents Sylvia with a one-day contract she signs to be a #RedWing @MakeAWish pic.twitter.com/dvnj8aqPUY
— Ansar Khan (@AnsarKhanMLive) December 28, 2024
“It means a lot to just skate with her and see that smile. We needed that,” Larkin said. “Watching her go on a breakaway against Talbs and score—hopefully that didn’t hurt his confidence too much for tomorrow’s game.”
Sylvia, a defenseman on her youth team, had only seen two Red Wings games in person, though she’s been to many Grand Rapids Griffins games. Her favorite Red Wings player is Larkin, while she also admires Griffins players Dominik Shine and Sebastian Cossa.
In addition to hockey, Sylvia holds a black belt in karate.
“Awesome. That’s what it’s all about, right?” said Patrick Kane. “Sometimes we get so caught up in the world of hockey, thinking the sky is falling when we lose a game or go through a tough stretch. Moments like this really put things into perspective. It’s amazing that the Red Wings do things like this—giving back to young fans. It’s exciting for any kid, and for us, too. It’s a great feeling to spend time with her, pass the puck around, or just talk. It’s a nice way to give back.”
