For 11-year-old Grayson, hockey has become much more than a sport.
It’s where he found his best friend. He was matched with Princeton Men’s Hockey through Team IMPACT in 2025. Since then, Grayson has embraced every opportunity to be part of the team. Living with congenital heart defects, he has undergone multiple lifesaving heart surgeries since infancy. Those early medical challenges have also brought developmental and social hurdles, making it difficult at times to connect with peers at their own age.
Then he met Josh, and from the very first day on Princeton’s campus, something clicked.
“From the beginning of Grayson’s Team IMPACT experience, Josh has been wonderful,” Grayson’s family shared. “From the first time they met on Princeton’s campus, we knew they formed an instant bond.”
That first meeting became the beginning of a friendship that continued to grow with every practice, every game, and every visit.
Rather than waiting for Grayson to become part of the team naturally, Josh made it happen. He took the time to coordinate visits, organize opportunities to spend time together, and make sure Grayson was regularly surrounded by his teammates.
“Josh was instrumental in immediately getting to know Grayson and arranging visits and events for Grayson to hang out with the team at least once a week or every other week. Josh was a great communicator with us and with Grayson.”
For Grayson, consistency mattered. It meant knowing there was always another practice to look forward to. Another chance to visit the locker room before a game. Another opportunity to lace up his own hockey gear and skate alongside the team with Josh never far away.
Whether it was Signing Day, skating at practice, or experiencing the excitement of game day from inside the locker room, Josh made sure Grayson wasn’t simply watching from the sidelines.
He was part of the team.
Their friendship quickly grew beyond hockey.
The two discovered a shared love of Harry Potter and movies, creating conversations and inside jokes that strengthened their bond. More importantly, Josh appreciated Grayson exactly as he was.
“Josh has provided Grayson with true friendship, belonging, and confidence,” his family said. “Josh shares Grayson’s love of Harry Potter and movies and appreciates Grayson for who he is… something Grayson needs when he has difficulty with his peers.”
That acceptance has made all the difference. Every time Grayson arrives at a Princeton game, he immediately looks for Josh. And every time, Josh is just as excited to see him. “Whenever we go to games, Grayson seeks Josh out, and Josh always seems just so excited to see Grayson too. It is heartwarming.”
It’s a simple exchange, but one that says everything. Because friendship isn’t about making someone fit in. It’s about making sure they know they already belong. Through every practice, every skate, every conversation about Harry Potter, and every enthusiastic greeting at the rink, Josh has become far more than a teammate. He’s become the role model, mentor, and friend Grayson needed.
“Josh’s character is very impressive, and we couldn’t be happier for him to be a role model for Grayson,” his family shared. “We could go on and on about all the things that make Josh deserving of the Teammate of the Year Award because he truly is the most deserving and has made everything about Grayson’s experience with Princeton hockey exceed all of our expectations. Grayson and our family cannot wait to see how their friendship grows. Josh is the best teammate we could ask for Grayson!”
At Team IMPACT, the strongest friendships aren’t measured by goals scored or games won. They’re measured by the confidence they inspire, the belonging they create, and the reminder that everyone deserves someone who is genuinely excited to see them.
For Grayson, that someone is Josh.
