Reader Jenn P. has a special little boy named Troy, who recently became a big fan of Garnet Hathaway fan. Hathaway turned 28 years old today but missed the Canucks game due to his suspension. Four-year-old Troy knew that Hathaway was in trouble, but he just couldn’t bear to think that his favorite player would be sad on his birthday.

So Troy took action.

Jenn P., Troy’s mom, takes it from here:

Troy has a speech delay and has been seeing a speech-language pathologist for about two years, but he’s always been all about the Caps (and whatever team Troy Brouwer is playing for). He would try to say their names and numbers and memorize them. (Ovi was his third word.) Many guys he couldn’t say (Wilson was always Yeah for about a year; he now says Tom. And Holtby was always Buh, but he can say Holtby now too.).

We would start working with him to help with his speech by learning all the Caps players’ names. So each new season he has new guys’ names to learn. This year, Garnet was the first one he learned and he just took to him immediately. Saying Garnet every time he was on the ice.

Not sure how this is going to go, but Troy knew Garnet’s bday is tomorrow. He has been watching & knows he is sad, so he said he wanted to make him a bday cake to make him happy. (For reference he was adamant about the lobster on the cake) Off to @Capitals practice we go! pic.twitter.com/dYVZu286PV — Jenn (@OsRavensCaps) November 22, 2019

He was watching the night of the ‘incident‘ and saw it happen. It was a teachable moment for him because Troy plays hockey. He also watches interviews and saw that he apologized, but he still seemed really sad.

Troy knew Garnet’s birthday was coming up and said he shouldn’t be sad on his birthday; he should be happy, and we should make him a cake. He wanted to make a lobster cake, but I had a lobster cookie cutter so we decided to put a lobster cookie on top of the cake.

Troy picked out a funfetti cake with rainbow chip icing. He poured everything (I pre-measured) into the bowl and hit the button on the mixer and helped to pour it into the pan. He helped to ice it. We made lobster sugar cookies, but they all broke except the one on the cake. We iced that and put it on top.

Troy then made a sign that said “Happy Birthday Garnet (tomorrow).” And he asked me to add on there that he made him a cake. He then wrote his name and a smiley face in the bottom right corner.

Troy has been going to Caps games since he was in the womb. He kind of didn’t have a chance to not be a Caps fan. He’s named after two Caps (one former, one current) players. He went to his first game at ten weeks old. He flew with my husband and me and went to Game 5 in Vegas.

Troy turned four earlier this month, and the only thing he asked for was a Garnet jersey and a picture with Garnet.

So his dad and I took him to practice on his birthday with the sign. Garnet saw it right away and skated over to him and snapped a picture.

Garnet saw it as he was going between rinks at practice and smiled. He came over and was like, “you made a cake for me?”

Of course, my child who usually (now) talks up a storm wouldn’t say a word, except, “yeah.” Garnet said he would come and grab it after practice. I wasn’t really sure if he would but figured my husband wouldn’t care if we had a cake at home.

After most of the guys were done with practice, Garnet was one of the ones still on the ice. We were just watching the guys because we were gonna hang to see if we could meet Jay Beagle. I looked up and Garnet was headed our way with a stick. I was completely floored. I never expected that; I don’t expect anything from these guys except the smile they put on my kids face when they play hockey.

THIS KID HAS ON HATHAWAY’S JERSEY AND AT THE END OR PRACTICE, HATHAWAY CAME OVER AND GAVE THE KID HIS STICK AND THE KID’s MOM GAVE GARNET A BIRTHDAY CAKE pic.twitter.com/SqpYXsNMW7 — bird jerk (@burakoofsky) November 22, 2019

Troy was super excited! He kept giving Troy high fives and trying to talk to him and we chatted for a few minutes. He really liked Troy’s Wilson socks and I told him that he wants Garnet socks and he laughed and said he didn’t think they made those.

I let him know I found someone on the Internet who makes socks and was getting some made. We also explained why Troy made him the cake and he was super appreciative.

We also apologized for the lobster looking like, um, a body part. They snapped a photo together, more high fives, and then he gave a girl a puck and he headed off the ice. Troy is still on cloud nine from this simple gesture.

.@GarnetHathaway starting the birthday celebrations early with a little post-practice treat 🎂 pic.twitter.com/vEIvh3pdj7 — NBC Sports Capitals (@NBCSCapitals) November 22, 2019

He even got to say hello to Jay Beagle who was in town with the Canucks.

Thank you, Jenn, for the lovely story.