Dream comes true for two guests at All-Star Weekend

TAMPA - Steven Koutrouliotis handed the prized possession to his sister, Patricia, with explicit instructions.
"Don't let go of that," Koutrouliotis said.

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Moments earlier, Chicago Blackhawks forward Patrick Kane had given Koutrouliotis his stick and autographed its blade. It was the highlight of a locker room visit for Koutrouliotis prior to the 2018 GEICO NHL All-Star Skills Competition at Amalie Arena on Saturday.

Through the Children's Wish Foundation of Canada, Koutrouliotis, a 13-year-old from Tottenham, Ontario, and Felix Powers, a 12-year-old from Quebec City, are guests of the League for 2018 Honda NHL All-Star Weekend and will also attend the 2018 Honda NHL All-Star Game on Sunday (3:30 p.m. ET; NBC, CBC, SN, TVA Sports).
"I only knew I was going to come to meet a few players," Koutrouliotis said. "I didn't know all of this was going to happen."
In September 2015, an MRI revealed Koutrouliotis had a cancerous tumor on his left optic nerve. He began his first round of chemotherapy two months later, but after eight months, the tumor was growing and the vision in his left eye was deteriorating. After a second round of chemotherapy, he had a biopsy in October 2016 which revealed low-grade optic pathway glioma.

Despite losing the vision in his left eye and ongoing weekly chemotherapy treatments, Koutrouliotis continued to play for the Duffield Devils white team in the North York Hockey (Ontario) League.
"Even days when he finished chemo, we drove straight from the hospital so he could play in the last period [of his team's game]," said George Koutrouliotis, Steven's father. "A lot of kids can't go through this and he has no problem. I couldn't."
Giving up playing hockey was never an option for Koutrouliotis.
"I always kept playing it because I love it" he said.
Powers feels the same way.
He was diagnosed with lymphoblastic lymphoma in 2007 when he was 22 months old. After two years of chemotherapy and five years in remission, he was declared cancer-free in February 2014.
Through it all, hockey has remained one of the positive forces in his life.
"It means a lot to me," said Powers, who plays for the Gladiateurs, a AA peewee team, and his school team in Quebec City. "I play a lot."

Powers' original wish was to meet and skate with Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Kris Letang, but the logistics of the visit couldn't be worked out. But near the end of his visit Saturday, he finally got to meet Letang.
"It was my first my choice," Powers said. "So that was just awesome."
Powers' and Koutrouliotis' visit began with a meeting with Commissioner Gary Bettman and Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly. Then, it was on to the Lightning locker room, where the Eastern Conference all-stars were getting ready for the Skills Competition.
Among those who signed autographs and took photos with the boys was Ottawa Senators defenseman Erik Karlsson, who was in full pirate attire in recognition of Tampa's annual Gasparilla Pirate Festival that took place on Saturday. Powers also got to meet one of his two favorite players, New York Islanders captain John Tavares.
Things got even better in the Western Conference locker room. There, Koutrouliotis, who was wearing a Blackhawks cap, met Kane. After signing Koutrouliotis' jersey, Kane said "come with me" and led him to the front of the locker room, where the players' sticks were lined up.
"I thought he was going to give me gloves or something," Koutrouliotis said. "I didn't think he was going to give me his stick."

After Kane gave Koutrouliotis his signed stick, Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid entered the locker room and took photos with the two boys.
Powers, though, was feeling a little left out after Koutrouliotis got Kane's stick until McDavid, who is his other favorite player, quickly remedied that and gave him an autographed stick of his own.
"He was a little bit sad when Steven got Patrick Kane's stick and [Felix] met John Tavares, one of his two idols, and he didn't get the stick," said Danick, Powers' older brother. "When Connor McDavid gave him his stick, he had stars in his eyes."
The visit concluded with meetings with Willie O'Ree, who celebrated the 60th anniversary of becoming the NHL's first black player on Jan. 18, and Hockey Hall of Famers Bryan Trottier and Bernie Parent.
Like Koutrouliotis, Powers expected to meet a handful of players. To meet every all-star and get McDavid's autographed stick went well beyond his dreams.
"Awesome," Powers said. "It was a once in a lifetime experience."