Okotoks Oilers pay visit to brighten youngster’s day

An Okotoks youngster who is battling health challenges on a couple of fronts got to meet his hockey heroes last week thanks to a local chiropractic clinic. 

Seven-year-old Coen Eckel, who was diagnosed with leukemia on Family Day last year, is in the maintenance phase of treatment and is now back at school. However, the Grade 2 student at Westmount School recently broke his ankle, so he visited Thrive Family Chiropractic last week as part of his rehab. 

The clinic, which has worked with the Okotoks Oilers for the past 18 months, has photos of the junior hockey team displayed, which Dr. Jason Baietto said mesmerized the young fan. Baietto said Coen was asked if he would like to meet one of the players and was quite excited about that possibility.  

“The day before his first visit to Thrive Chiropractic, I reached out to a few of the players hoping that one or two would stop by during his adjustment and give him a quick fist bump to brighten his day,” said Baietto. “The players that were asked enthusiastically said they would love to come and meet Coen. 

“They asked some other players to join them. They went way above my expectations and did so with such amazing compassionate attitudes. In the end, about 20 players came out in their jerseys to support Coen. They brought him a signed hoodie and gave him and his family tickets to their next home playoff game.” 

Coen’s mom, Kristen Strutt, said it was an awesome experience, adding she’s grateful to the clinic for making it happen. 

“We expected maybe one or two of them to show up and then we walk out and there’s all of these players, so he was a little shy,” Strutt said, “but boy did he talk about it after. 

“We are lucky to be from a town where the local team is such a fine group of gentlemen,” she added. 

Strutt said Coen has already planned the day he’ll be wearing his new hoodie to school to show all his friends the autographs he got. 

The family, which has been to a few games this season, will be going to the Oilers playoff game against Brooks on Tuesday courtesy of the team. 

“He’s a big fan of the team,” Strutt said. “He’s got the hat and the horn and now the sweater.”