Medicine Hat Mavericks Superhero night fundraiser game on Saturday

Dominic would pass a few months later in September 2015, on a wish trip to Florida, just over a month shy of what would have been his third birthday.

A few years later the Superhero Night games would begin.

Sean Rooney said each year they put out a call for a first pitch candidate, this year it will be Reid Hintz.

“It turns out Reid has been called Superman by folks since he was little – a perfect fit,” Rooney said.

“Folks need to know that a night like this exists to help kids in our community. Yes, the Alberta Children’s Hospital is 300 kilometres away. But so many people from Medicine Hat and area utilize it, so I consider it a local resource worth supporting,” he added.

“They help with specialized things our hometown hospital isn’t meant for, and they go above and beyond because these kids deserve the best possible care.”

Rooney said his wife and daughter will also throw out a first pitch at the game.

“Trish works at EBT, the gameday sponsor, and they approached her to do it,” Rooney said.

“Gameday sponsors have had their own first pitch the last few years, but this is the first time our family has thrown it out at Superhero Night,” he added.

“For that to be happening on the 10-year anniversary of Dom throwing one out is special.”

Rooney said he loves that the Mavericks continue with Superhero Night.

“As we often say, doing charity work in Dominic’s name is how we raise a child who’s no longer with us,” Rooney said.

“I like to think that Dom would’ve grown up to be a selfless, happy kid, so a night like this is right in his wheelhouse,” he added.

“I love the idea of the cape as part of the design, and the MH Superman themed logo is fantastic. Really smart of them to go with a Superman inspiration given that the new movie premiers literally the night before Superhero Night.”

Through #Dominicstrong, Rooney and his wife Trish reported last season they had raised over $300,000 for the Alberta Children’s Hospital since Dominic was diagnosed with leukemia in 2013.

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READ: Medicine Hat Mavericks kick off weekend series, with Superhero night fundraiser Saturday (July 12, 2024)

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The superhero night with the Mavericks normally raising about $1,000 to help the Rooney’s kick off their multiple fundraising events throughout the year.

Fans are encourage to come dressed up as superheroes during Saturday night’s game.

Rooney and his wife will have a booth set up at the game, happy to talk with people about their fundraising efforts and enjoying the night.

One of the criteria for the local kid chosen to throw out the first pitch each year is, they have spent time at the Alberta Children’s Hospital.

Eleven-year old Reid Hintz was born with a condition called Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congentia.

He was transferred to the Alberta Children’s Hospital for five days after being born to establish the severity of his condition.

Hintz has travelled as far as Montreal for treatment, but has been able to utilized the Alberta Children’s Hospital for majority of his care, which includes over a thousand appointments and a dozen surgeries.

His mother Rebecca Hintz had told Rooney, that right from a young age Reid brought people in with his cheeky smile.

“He has always been filled with an, ‘I got this’ attitude no matter what he faces,” Hintz said.

“His favourite hobbies are giving his mother grey hair with his off-roading wheeling and nicely timed pun or dad joke!”

Rooney said that the Hintz family has followed the #Dominicstrong story and they’ve got huge hearts.

“One of his brothers did a fundraiser for his birthday party one year for the hospital, presenting us the money at one of our events.”

The Mavericks will look to avenge their blowout loss to the Moose Jaw Miller Express from Thursday, with a Saturday contest hosting their Saskatchewan foe.

First pitch at Athletic Park is at 7:05 p.m.

by Jesse Gill

Medicine Hat Mavericks Superhero night fundraiser game on Saturday

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