University of North Dakota goaltender Zane McIntyre had a stellar junior season this year, but his greatest play of the year might have come off the ice.
McIntyre, a sixth-round draft pick by the Boston Bruins in 2010, led UND to a Frozen Four appearance with a 29-10-3 record and a .929 save percentage, earning him a selection as one of three finalists for the 2015 Hobey Baker Award. But he wasn’t done there. The Minnesota native recently surprised one of his biggest fans from Warren, Minn., taking her to her first ever school dance.
According to the Grand Forks Herald, 18-year-old Shayla Miller was born with cerebral palsy and other disorders that led doctors to believe she would never be able to walk or talk. Miller defied the odds, however, undergoing 16 surgeries in 17 years, while recently learning how to walk again after suffering a stroke just over a year ago.
Throughout the years, Miller became a huge fan of UND hockey, prompting her mom to reach out to the standout goalie about taking his No. 1 fan to prom this year. McIntyre’s answer was a resounding yes.
“I said, ‘Count me in, I’d enjoy going back to prom,'” McIntyre said, per the Grand Forks Herald. “I’m really going to enjoy it. I think it’s going to be awesome.”
He was right about that. McIntyre showed up to Miller’s house on Saturday, sporting his black UND jersey in lieu of a jacket and he came bearing gifts as well. The goalie brought her a signed goalie stick as well an autographed puck from the Hobey Baker ceremony. From there the pair enjoyed a nice dinner together and showed up to the dance in style, driving a convertible to the Grand March, where they received a huge ovation from Miller’s classmates as the last couple to walk in.
“This was something really special to do with Shayla, who is a really absolutely incredible person, couldn’t have shared it with a better person at all,” McIntyre said, per WDAZ 8.
Photo via Twitter/@gfherald
