After his first preseason game with New Jersey, Dougie Hamilton was asked about wearing the Devils logo for the first time. He pointed to one of his boyhood idols, whom also wore the Devils logo.
"I grew up a fan of Scott Niedermayer. Hopefully, I can get his autograph someday."
Niedermayer is a Hockey Hall of Famer and former Devils' defenseman. And Hamilton's wish had come true. On Saturday, prior to the team's practice, Niedermayer paid a surprise visit to meet Hamilton.
"I saw him right away. He had a mask on, so it was hard to tell (it was him), but I figured it out pretty quick," Hamilton said with a boyish grin. "It was awesome. It was a good start to the day."
Niedermayer signed one his iconic No. 27 jerseys, which hangs retired in the
Prudential Center
rafters, to Hamilton.
"One of the guys I idolized as a kid. I wore 27 for many years partially because of him," Hamilton said. "It was definitely cool to see him, meet him, somebody you look up to as a kid and dreamt of being like him."
Dougie Hamilton Meets Idol Niedermayer | BLOG
The Devils Hall of Fame defenseman paid a surprise visit to fulfill the current defenseman's dream
