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Red Wings welcome new goaltender to the team ahead of facing the Senators Sunday


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Joshua Deeds
January 17, 2026  (2:40 PM)
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Detroit Red Wings and the teams newest goalie at practice Saturday
Photo credit: Screenshot

We have some new, wholesome content for the Detroit Red Wings fans, as they've welcomed a new goaltender to the team ahead of facing the Ottawa Senators on Sunday in Little Caesars Arena.

We don't get to post wholesome content too often. This Saturday changed that as the Detroit Red Wings welcomed a new goaltender to the Belfor Training Center in Detroit.
You can see the new goalie is getting his reps in with all of the boys who got to practice with 4-year-old Merrick, a kid who got to live out a wish of his own.
He got to live it out in practice today amongst all the Red Wings stars who gave the 4-year-old star a chance to see what going through a practice was like.
Per Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press, Merrick showed up to Red Wings practice to meet John Gibson, his favorite player. He quickly took him under his wings to give him an experience he'll never forget.
The wholesome scene stole the show; you can see Merrick being taken out on the ice by Gibson below.

Detroit Red Wings' goaltender John Gibson makes a fan's dream come true.

The Detroit Red Wings' partnership with Trinity Health has been key in giving young fans with chronic illnesses a chance to live out their dreams. The focal point of it all? Giving fans a life-changing experience and uplifting their spirits in a dire time.
When the Red Wings foundation opened the 2025 LGRW auction last March. It funds experiences like this:
"When a child battling a critical illness steps onto the ice or meets their hockey hero, they aren't just receiving a wish-they're gaining priceless memories that inspire joy, hope and the strength to keep on going. Thank you to the Detroit Red Wings and The Red Wings Foundation for this incredible partnership!" - Michael Hull, President and CEO, Make-A-Wish Michigan

This critical partnership between the Detroit Red Wings Foundation and Make-A-Wish organization provided Merrick the chance to see what the day-in and day-out of a practice for the team is like.
He'll also leave practice on Saturday with what not many people have been able to experience: a chance to meet his hero.
After the NHL Issued a statement awarding Gibson the second star of the week on the 13th, he continued the great work on Saturday with Merrick.
POLL
JANVIER 17   |   83 ANSWERS
Red Wings welcome new goaltender to the team ahead of facing the Senators Sunday

Do you think goaltender Merrick of the Detroit Red Wings, the team's newest player who made his debut at practice thanks to the Make-A-Wish foundation, has a future in the NHL?


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