N.J. 14-year-old leukemia patient realizes his dream to skate with van Riemsdyk

Luke Rogers (center), a 14-year-old leukemia patient, got to skate with his childhood hero James van Riemsdyk (left) and goalie Calvin Pickard at Wednesday's practice at Voorhees, N.J.

VOORHEES, N.J. – Luke Rogers said he’s been dreaming his whole life of meeting and skating with his boyhood hero, James van Riemsdyk of the Flyers.

And maybe that wish-come-true can supply him with some extra inspiration as the 14-year-old resident of Marlboro, N.J. battles a disease called Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.

There was a big smile on Rogers’ face as he joined van Riemsdyk on the Skate Zone ice Wednesday morning for a 15-minute shoot-around with goaltender Calvin Pickard in the net.

The kid’s got some game and perhaps there was a little extra pep in his step because of this opportunity.

Later, after meeting some other Flyers in the locker room, Rogers walked upstairs, met general manager Ron Hextall and signed a rather unique one-day contract with the team.

Rogers says he has been waiting a long time for this day. He grew up playing on the same rink (originally called Jersey Sports Arena) that JVR played on his own youth.

As special as the day was for Rogers, it was also an emotional one for JVR, a native of Middletown, N.J.

“Just the excitement that he (Rogers) had for it was pretty cool,’’ van Riemsdyk said after the brief workout. “It’s always great in the situation that we’re in as athletes, being involved in the community and that kind of stuff. For me, it’s even more important because I’m a guy who is relatively local and in a situation like this.

“He grew up playing in the same rink that I did, so there’s an extra connection there.’’

Making a difference in someone’s life is something all pro athletes can aspire to. Van Riemsdyk is no exception.

“It’s special to have the opportunity to do something like this,’’ he said. “It’s a small thing, but you get to make someone’s day.

“He gets to go up there, meet ‘Hexy’ and stare him down a little bit.’’

That line drew a hearty laugh from assembled media nearby.

Rogers said the time with van Riemsdyk was pretty awesome.

“He was one of my idols, he grew up around me,’’ Rogers said. “It was just fun to get the extra ice time, play with professionals.’’

The young man said he had to give up hockey for a while during treatment and said that absence was the toughest part of the process.

The furlough lasted from October, 2015 to January, 2017.

“It really ate away at me,’’ he said. “Hockey is my life. It’s always been my life. When I got back to playing it was the joy of my life.

“That year I couldn’t walk or bathe myself. Then I got the ‘port’ (for intravenous chemotherapy) out and I started playing full contact. Not nearly where I was before, but I’ll get there. My treatment is over in February, 2019.’’

Rogers said his closest friends at school tell him they admire his courage.

But the last thing he wants is to be the center of attention.

“Like this,’’ he cracked, turning toward several TV cameras.

For that brief time on the ice, Rogers had his favorite Flyer all to himself.

“It was pretty amazing,’’ he said.

Rogers said he and van Riemsdyk talked about the team, how they’re doing, how they practice, etc.

“We talked about how my game can get better, my shot,’’ he said. “He gave me some tips on how to improve my shot.’’

And meeting Hextall was a fairly exciting thing as well.

“Hopefully I’ll be able to do it (a signing) again someday with a professional team,’’ he said. “Maybe this one.’’

Rogers also got to meet Wayne Simmonds and Brian Elliott.

But the van Riemsdyk handshake obviously meant the most.

“It’s always cool to see people from your neck of the woods,’’ van Riemsdyk said. “That’s one of the nice things for me, playing in a place that’s relatively close to home.

“I’m only an hour and a half away from here. Realizing the chance you have to share it with people where you’re from and grew up is pretty cool.’’

To top it off, the Flyers have arranged for Rogers to come into the locker room prior to Thursday night’s home game against the New Jersey Devils and read the starting lineup to the players.

These two days will probably do as much good for Rogers’ soul as anything from the field of medicine.

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About Wayne Fish 2386 Articles
Wayne Fish has been covering the Flyers since 1976, a stint which includes 18 Stanley Cup Finals, four Winter Olympics and numerous other international events.

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