An 8-Year-Old Rep Goalie Mentored A Player With Special Needs In Peterborough Learning The Position & It Was Awesome

Brody Brown is an 8-year-old goalie for the Peterborough Petes Novice AAA with a heart of gold.

See, Brody wanted to help out the Electric City Maroon & White, a special needs hockey team in town. On Saturday (November 11th) during an Electric City practice at Norwood Arena near Peterborough, he came and mentored 11-year-old goalie Jacob Craft who is learning the position.

This is Brody (at left) helping Jacob...

Coach Chris J-Boy Williams says Brody is a wonderful kind, young man that is already making a difference by working with special needs players.

"Brody's mom originally reached out to me a couple of months ago to let me know he has asked anyone coming to his birthday that in lieu of presents, to give cash which he wanted to donate to our team," Coach Williams tells PTBOCanada. "He came out to one of our practices recently and donated $200 which was an extremely kind thing to do. We have a brand new Junior goalie, Jacob, and I asked him if he would like to come out on the ice and work with Jacob which he did today. Super nice little guy that just wants to help out."

Brody (at left) giving advice to Jacob about goaltending

Brody tells PTBOCanada of his gesture: “I love playing hockey and want to help others play too."

Here is Brody pictured with Coach Williams, delivering the donation to the team...

Brody's gesture of time and money had an impact that Coach Williams, Jacob and the rest of the team won't forget.

"This is so much more than hockey," Coach Williams tells PTBOCanada. "Children and adults with special needs are often left feeling isolated with few friends and having Brody on the ice, welcoming Jacob to the Electric City family, is important to my players."

Brody, Jacob and Coach Williams

Coach Williams adds: "Special needs kids want to be able to show the world that they are hockey players and that they have dreams and goals just like everyone else. It was important for Brody not only to mentor Jacob but to learn about him as a person off the ice—what school he goes to, his favourite movies and the music he listens too. As parents, we need to teach our children acceptance and from acts of kindness we see amazing results."

Brody demonstrated a huge example of that on Saturday, and that impact he had may well have forged a bond to last a lifetime.

Engage with us on social media on TwitterInstagram and Facebook. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here. Watch our PTBOCanada Love video here.