Usually our "Checking In" features have the players write about their experiences at an international hockey event, but in Chris Terry's edition we take it off the ice and learn about the impact a player can have on someone. Terry took a few minutes out of his day this week and impacted the life of a young boy and his family. Moreover, Terry was impacted and got just as much out of the experience himself.

The Whalers do a lot of community appearances and leave lasting impressions on many of their fans. Terry recently hung out with his number one fan and the message he got from his experience will stick with him. You never know what is going to happen from one day to the next, so have fun, enjoy every moment, and always keep smiling.

What a difference a year makes...

Last year, Plymouth Whalers forward Chris Terry, 18, played a supporting role on a team that had seven players sign NHL contracts. The Brampton, Ontario, native went out and did his job each day, but wasn’t counted on to provide the heroics.

One of Terry’s biggest fans is sixteen-year-old Bobby Suvoy. He loves attending Whalers games with his dad, Bob, especially when the Whalers beat the London Knights. Last year, Bobby cheered and jumped for joy as he watched the Whalers win the Ontario Hockey League Championship.

What a difference a year makes. This season, Terry scored 101 points and constantly provided heroics during games, including a league-leading four shootout game-winners. However, being a hero doesn’t

Suvoy and Terry were both all smiles that day.

always happen on the ice for this hockey player.

Last August, Bobby was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s disease, an aggressive neurological disorder which attacks all muscle functions in the body. He is now completely paralyzed and confined to a wheelchair, as well as needing constant assistance from a breathing machine. He has still been able to attend a number of games this season because all he wants to do is see his favorite player. At night when he goes to sleep, he likes having Terry’s jersey draped on him. All he would dream about was having Terry sign the jersey in front of his whole family so they could share in one of his happiest moments.

The Suvoy saying is, “What Bobby wants, Bobby gets” so arrangements were made for Terry to sign the jersey. All Bobby had to do was wait until the Whalers final regular season home game on March 15. The family had enough tickets for everyone coming in to town to go to the game and experience the special moment with Bobby. The plan was that Terry would meet them on the concourse after the game and sign the jersey in front of everyone. Bobby asked his dad to buy a video camera so they could tape the event, since he wants to be able to look back and remember it when he gets better.

Terry signs Suvoy's #20 jersey in front of all of Suvoy's friends and family - just like he had wanted.

Two days before the game, Bobby’s dad phoned the Whalers to inform them that Bobby had taken a turn for the worse. The doctors said he didn’t have long to live and Bobby couldn’t get out of bed. Bobby was upset because he wouldn’t be able to make it to Saturday’s game to have Terry sign his jersey in front of his family.

Terry, like most hockey players, is very superstitious about keeping the same routine before games, especially since the Whalers were battling for playoff positioning. However when he heard that Bobby wouldn’t be able to make the game, he didn’t hesitate to change things up. He spent his Saturday afternoon in Redford at the Suvoy’s house talking to Bobby, taking photos, and signing his jersey in front of all the family members just like Bobby wanted.

"Bobby put a real perspective on me on how everything can be going great, but then turn for the worse so quick," Terry said. "It was a good experience to see him. It brought a lot of inspiration to me to not only value my life, but the situation I am in and how well I have it."

If you look at the top of Terry's stick, you can see the message he wrote to his #1 fan: "Do It 4 Bobby" - Suvoy was at home watching with his family and of course still smiling from earlier that day.

Bobby didn’t stop smiling that day and couldn’t wait to watch the Whalers game that night. Terry said he would score a goal for him and wrote on his stick “Do It 4 Bobby.” Although Terry didn’t provide any late-game heroics and the Whalers lost, the Suvoy family knows that Terry was a hero that day. He made one of Bobby’s last days one of his best.

"I'm truly glad that I went and met Bobby and all of his family," Terry added. "It has already helped me become a better person. Once again, I would like to thank Bobby and his family for letting me come and see him. I wish him all the best and hope to see him at a game soon. Keep smiling, buddy! God bless."

-Natalie Shaver, March 18, 2008