CHARACTER COUNTS

Senators’ Turris scores OT game-winner, surprises at special needs hockey banquet

May 8, 2017, 1:36 PM

Ottawa Senators' Kyle Turris (7) celebrates after he scored the game-winning goal during overtime a...

Ottawa Senators' Kyle Turris (7) celebrates after he scored the game-winning goal during overtime against the New York Rangers in Game 5 in the second round of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoffs in Ottawa on Saturday, May 6, 2017. The Senators won 5-4 in overtime.(Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP)

(Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP)

The Ottawa Senators’ Kyle Turris scored the game-winning overtime goal against the New York Rangers on Saturday, then put on his suit and headed out.

He had a prior engagement.

Turris slipped in the back door at the Capital City Condors’ season-ending banquet and surprised a group of special needs hockey players who had become his biggest fans thanks to his continued support, writes TSN’s Ian Mendes.

Turris could have gone to any restaurant or bar in Ottawa on Saturday night and eaten for free after playing the role of playoff hero. But instead, before boarding a plane for New York on Sunday, he chose to spend his precious free time with a group of kids and parents with whom he and his wife shared a special bond.

“I’ve never been in an environment like that,” the program’s co-founder and president Jim Perkins told TSN.ca on Sunday. “The place just exploded. It was like nothing I’ve ever seen before.”

Turris became close to the Condor players after meeting Perkins five year ago. He asked for a team yearbook upon learning about the organization, then the next week with his wife Julie showed up to practice already knowing each players’ name.

Ever since, he’s been an ambassador of sorts and even put his name on the team’s golf tournament event to help bring awareness to it, Mendes reports.

On Saturday, the players and their families understood Turris was a little bit busy playing in Game 5 of Ottawa’s series with New York. They watched the game and cheered as Turris hit the game-winning shot.

But his late arrival struck an emotion chord with them, Mendes reports.

“There’s absolutely no way anybody could have faulted him for not being there. He was the hero of the night already and then he showed up,” (said parent Adam) Hatfield while his voice was cracking with emotion. “All I could think of was here is a guy who has championed this very special team. And he must have been exhausted playing an overtime game in the playoffs. And he still showed up. That night is going to live in the kids hearts forever.”

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Senators’ Turris scores OT game-winner, surprises at special needs hockey banquet