“He makes you feel unbelievable”
IceDogs assistant equipment manager and locker room attendant Greg McPherson, middle, is flanked by equipment manager Nick Hornby, left, and assistant athletic trainer Blair Stayzer, right. Photo by: BILL POTRECZ
It’s game day, about two hours before the Niagara IceDogs are about to hit the ice, and one by one members of the team arrive and head to the locker room to prepare for battle.
But before they can enter the room, it’s high-five and hug time with Greg McPherson.
McPherson, the IceDogs assistant equipment manager and locker room attendant, doesn’t let a player go by without a hug, handshake, or some other type of encouragement.
That’s Greg McPherson. Full of hope, full of fun, full of life, full of unconditional love.
Greg, a 27-year-old Welland native, was born with Down syndrome, a genetic disorder caused by the presence of an extra chromosome. This extra genetic material causes characteristic physical features and mild to moderate developmental disabilities.
Greg joined the IceDogs two years ago after meeting assistant athletic therapist Blair Stayzer.
Stayzer, a 38-year-old Dunnville native and former OHL and pro hockey player, was working with Greg to train him for the Special Olympics and thought he might be a good fit to work with the IceDogs.
“He was the first special needs individual I ever trained,” Stayzer said. “It was about the best part of my day. I started doing my own research for what was available for individuals with Down syndrome and there was nothing for them on a social aspect.”
Stayzer contacted IceDogs equipment manager Nick Hornby who thought it would be a great idea to bring Greg on board.
The IceDogs then got in touch with Greg’s parents, Ron and Kathy McPherson, and brought him in for a tour of the arena.
After a quick look around, Greg and his parents were led into the IceDogs dressing room where a red jersey with his name on it hung in one of the lockers.
“They asked if he wanted to work for the IceDogs,” Ron smiled.
From that point on, Greg has been a fixture behind the scenes, helping Hornby and Stayzer, doing everything from filling water bottles, to making sure supplies are ready on the bench, to helping with the wash.
Ron said working with the IceDogs has made a huge impact on his son’s life.
“It’s unbelievable. It’s all he wants to do and all he talks about.
“He always said he was going to work for the IceDogs. He’s said that for years. He gets what he wants.”
Stayzer often picks up Greg and brings him to work with him. His parents, who are season ticket holders, arrive later and rarely miss a game.
“He’s confident. He’s happy. He’s part of a team,” Ron continued. “He knows he’s part of a group. It’s amazing. The acceptance of the guys —they’ve really, really accepted him.
“It’s at a point where I don’t know what to say. Everybody wants to be wanted.”
Greg’s impact goes far beyond his work with Stayzer and Hornby.
His jovial demeanour rubs off on the players who know they can always get a word of encouragement from Greg.
He is particularly close to defencemen Johnathon Schaefer and Elijah Roberts.
“It’s awesome. There’s always ups and downs in hockey. It doesn’t matter if you are losing 10-0 or winning 7-5, he’s always there to come in and give you a kiss on the cheek or a tap on the back,” Schaefer said.
When he was batting a shoulder problem last year, Schaefer said Greg stayed with him for hours while he was in the IceDogs hyperbaric oxygen chamber.
“He sat with me for three hours and talked to me. Things like that you always remember,” Schaefer said. “He was so gentle. He kissed me on the shoulder and gave me a hug.”
Schaefer loves what Greg brings to the team behind the scenes.
“He makes you feel unbelievable. Guys walk in and he gives you a handshake and a hug. He’s one of the guys on the team and makes you feel happy. He makes the environment a happier place seeing him get so excited. It just makes you go out and play that much better knowing you are going to get that encouragement when you come back to the room.”
Schaefer said meeting Greg given him a different perspective on life.
“We complain about ice time or different things going on in your life but I would honestly encourage anyone to spend time with a Down syndrome person. It will make you a better person and encourage you to go out and spread good will. He’s always happy, he’s always smiling and in a good mood and always full of love.”
Roberts said Greg keeps in constant contact with him, texting him before every game to make sure he brings him a coffee.
“Every time I see him he’s got a smile on his face. We can lose 10-0 or win 10-0, he smiling. He’s just a great kid to be around,” Roberts said. “Things are bigger than the game. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him be negative.
“It makes you sit back and look and be appreciative and learn from him to take in all the good things in life.”
Greg, who attended high school at Jean Vanier in Welland where Ron is a teacher, is the oldest of three children of Ron and Kathy McPherson.
Ron remembers the day he was born like it was yesterday.
“I was an athlete and Kathy was an athlete and we thought we were going to get a hockey player or whatever. We didn’t get a hockey player but we got a basketball player and a swimmer,” Ron said. “He also bowls and plays baseball.”
They also got a poster boy for Down syndrome through Stayzer who created G-Mc’s Fitness Homies with Extra Chromies (www.facebook.com/gmcshomiesextrachromies). Each month the group for people with Down Syndrome takes part in a variety of social actives.
Through it all, Ron marvels at the impact his son has made on the lives of those he touches.
“He’s never miserable, he’s never in a bad mood or mad,” he said proudly. “He’s so well mannered. I could wake him up at 2:30 in the morning and he would stand up and give me a hug.
“I don’t have words for it. And sometimes I do get emotional. The players are so amazing with him.”
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