BREAKING NEWS: #mnwild signs Bridget Villebrun to a one-day contract. She will wear #11. #BridgetsWish @MakeAWishMN pic.twitter.com/tMsTSG3vHQ
— Minnesota Wild (@mnwild) October 27, 2015
The Minnesota Wild announced the signing of a new No. 11 on Tuesday – for one day only.
Bridget Villebrun, an 18-year-old out of Nett Lake, Minnesota, put pen to paper on her contract before being paraded before the media by Wild general manager Chuck Fletcher.
It fulfilled the teenager’s lifelong dream – and was made possible by Make-A-Wish Minnesota.
For Bridget has non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and a request was made to the foundation to grant her wish of “being a Wild player for the day.”
Make-A-Wish told BringMeTheNews she is spending Tuesday meeting with players including Zach Parise, shopping in the Wild store, observing the warm-up and then being in the stands for the Wild’s game against the Edmonton Oilers.
Today is the day – Bridget is now an official member of the Minnesota Wild! She made sure to cross all the T’s and dot all the I’s on her contract! #BridgetsWish
Posted by Make-A-Wish Minnesota on Tuesday, October 27, 2015
“She loves hockey,” Make-A-Wish spokesperson Helen Ng said. “She is hooked on hockey. It is a release for her during her treatment and illness. She loves watching it and loves the Minnesota Wild.
“We’ve planned a fantastic day for her along with the Minnesota Wild. It’s something we do for children across Minnesota so they can focus on something other than their medical condition. It’s definitely been a special day for her.”
You can see how big a fan Bridget is by checking out her Instagram page, where she has posted several Wild-related pictures and has “Big Hockey fan” and “Goo Wild!!” in her profile.
The Wild told BringMeTheNews it will be providing “continuing coverage” of Bridget’s day on its website and social media platforms.
As well as taking her place in a suite for the Oilers game, Bridget – whose favorite player is Mikael Granlund – will get the chance to ride on a Zamboni during intermission, after taking a tour of the Xcel Energy Center.
You can refer any child with a life-threatening condition who is between 2½ and 18 years old to Make-A-Wish Minnesota. Click here for more information.
