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CNN — After no invited friends showed up to his 11-year-old son's birthday party, Jason Foster took to Twitter to crowdsource some birthday love for his little boy.
Foster posted a picture of his son Kade at the birthday party last weekend, proudly repping the Toronto Maple Leafs with his Leafs shirt and a custom cake. His dad tagged the team, as well as Leafs players Mitchell Marner and John Tavares.
My son Kade had his 11th birthday party last night. None of his invited friends came. That hurt. I’m asking my Twitter friends to show him some love today. If you have a minute, please send him a birthday wish. @Marner93@91Tavares@MapleLeafs#LeafsForeverpic.twitter.com/kn0vP1l6z8
— Jason Foster (@NLWildlife) November 3, 2019
His call for birthday wishes was met with a flood of tweets from hockey players, celebrities, and politicians, including "Star Wars" star Mark Hamill, actor Ben Stiller and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Then the Maple Leafs took notice. The team flew the birthday boy and his family from their home in Newfoundland to Toronto for the Leafs' game Saturday against the Philadelphia Flyers.
Kade was able to watch the morning skate and meet the team in their locker room. A video posted by the team shows him shaking hands with players Jason Spezza, Morgan Rielly and others.
If being flown to Toronto, meeting the entire team and watching his favorite players on the ice wasn't enough, Kade was also serenaded by fans.
A special birthday celebration 🎉#LeafsForeverpic.twitter.com/hOsZmgS5eP
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) November 9, 2019
Leafs mascot Carlton the Bear wheeled out a Maple Leafs-themed cake and led the entire Scotiabank Arena in a booming rendition of "Happy Birthday."
.@CarltonTheBear with a special delivery for Kade 🎂#LeafsForeverpic.twitter.com/jGDOrZtxRE
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) November 10, 2019
While the Maple Leafs lost the game 3-2, it's pretty safe to say the day was a huge win for Kade.
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