By Julia Mericle
News Editor
Matthew McGuinness said it feels great to be a Bonnie.
The 14 year old from Franklinville was officially drafted onto the St. Bonaventure club hockey team on Sat., Nov. 7 as part of TEAM IMPACT, an organization that pairs children facing life-threatening and chronic illnesses with a college athletics team.
McGuinness was diagnosed with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), a serious kidney disease, one year ago. He undergoes daily dialysis and is working to be put on the transplant list, according to TEAM IMPACT members.
Rob DeFazio, director of club sports, welcomed McGuinness onto the team.
“From this point forward you will always be a Bonnie, a member of the team as long as you are a good teammate, you try hard academically and you are a positive member of society,” DeFazio said.
McGuinness accepted this agreement and signed his letter of intent.
Bill Fanton, hockey coach, said he is excited to have a new member of the team.
“This is a very great program, and he is a very calm, cool kid,” said Fanton, we need that around some of these guys,” Fanton said, referring to the hockey team.
Fanton said he plans to keep McGuinness in the press box most of the time and hopes to do a puck drop with him at a home game.
McGuinness said at his first hockey game as a member of the team, he hopes to sit on the bench and help get a goal.
Fanton said the team will keep McGuinness close even when the season ends and thanks TEAM IMPACT for allowing the relationship to happen.
“We are hoping this grows and that many other teams on campus can continue to do this as well,” Fanton said.
McGuinness’ parents, Elaine and Brent Scoins, thanked Bonaventure for reaching out to help.
“We really appreciate it. Freshmen in high school have enough issues, as I’m sure you all remember,” Elaine Scoins said. “So hopefully this will be some additional support.”
McGuinness received official gear of the hockey team, including a hat, T-shirt, bracelet, helmet stickers, puck and jersey with the number six.
“The number 12 in football is very big as the twelfth man and in hockey it is the number six. So, you will always be our sixth man even though you won’t be on the ice playing,” DeFazio said. “We’ve got your back, and you’ll have our back.”
mericlje13@bonaventure.edu
