Manheim Central High School (MCHS) sophomore Blake Stiegauf had the opportunity of a lifetime when Make-A-Wish Philadelphia, Delaware & Susquehanna Valley teamed up with the Philadelphia Flyers to introduce him to his favorite player, Claude Giroux, and have him sign a one-day contract and suit up for a professional game on Feb. 28.
Blake, 15, was referred to Make-A-Wish, a nonprofit organization that creates wishes for youths with a critical illness, after he was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in April 2019. The day after his diagnosis he had surgery, followed by two rounds of inpatient chemotherapy at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center.
His parents, Brian and Shelby Stiegauf of Lititz, said that the amount of gratitude they feel for Blake's doctors and care team and his recovery cannot be understated. "We're celebrating six months cancer-free," said Shelby.
Blake is a lifelong Flyers fan and his bedroom is "everything Flyers," Shelby said. Blake has been a member of the Manheim Central Ice Hockey Club since fourth grade, and Brian has been assistant coaching since Blake was in sixth grade. Shelby said that Blake's oncologist made it clear that he would do everything in his power to make sure that Blake recovered and was ready to play in time for hockey season in the fall.
When it came time to brainstorm ideas for a Make-A-Wish request, Blake's parents encouraged him to choose wisely. "We told him to really think about it. Make-A-Wish makes an effort to say to kids, 'This is the one time it's OK to be selfish,'" Shelby shared.
"I said that I kind of just want to sit down and have lunch with the Flyers and have pizza," recalled Blake.
Make-A-Wish and the Flyers took that request and ran with it. Blake, his parents, and younger brother Brent headed to Philadelphia for two full days of star treatment. "All we knew was that we were going to the practice arena, but we didn't know any of the details," Shelby said.
After watching the Flyers practice on Feb. 27, Blake suited up in his own practice uniform in the team locker room and took to the ice for a skills practice with Giroux. "After (Blake's) practice, he came back in the locker room, got changed, and they took him up to the press room where the general manager signed him for a 24-hour contract with the Philadelphia Flyers," shared Shelby.
Then it was time for a one-on-one lunch with Giroux. "I kind of forgot the questions I had in my mind to ask him," said Blake with a laugh. "He was asking me about my cancer experience, and he brought up how he was talking with Oskar (Lindblom) about his cancer experience."
Lindblom, a Flyers forward, was diagnosed with Ewing's sarcoma in December 2019 and was out for the season for treatment.
Make-A-Wish sent the Stiegaufs to Dave & Buster's that evening and to the Franklin Institute for the day on Feb. 28 before the evening game.
"We knew that Blake needed to wear a suit to the game Friday night, but that was it," Shelby said. "We had limo transportation to the rink, where he went into the player entrance and was escorted back to a guest locker room and had a full Flyers uniform with his name and number on a jersey."
Blake suited up, announced the starting lineup in the locker room and led the team out of the tunnel onto the ice. He then took his official solo "rookie lap" before taking a shot on goalie Carter Hart and warming up with the team. To top off the whole experience, Blake got to do a press interview with Giroux, who scored two goals in the Flyers' win over the New York Rangers that night.
"Make-A-Wish and the Flyers went so far above and beyond what we ever anticipated," remarked Shelby. "How do you ever say thank you for something like this?"
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