Hughes Brothers, Devils Go Above & Beyond in Granting Young Fans’ Wishes in Make-A-Wish Partnership

For teenagers Natalie, Giovanni, and Darby, this past weekend wasn’t just a trip to Prudential Center…it was a full-circle moment of joy, healing and magic.

The New Jersey Devils, in partnership with Make-A-Wish New Jersey, the Devils Youth Foundation, and Fanatics, turned two ordinary days into a lifetime of memories for these three young fans battling illnesses.

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For 15-year-old Natalie Honzalek from Minnesota, the wish was simple: meet Jack Hughes. The forward for the Northern Lakes Lightning was diagnosed with a rare form of sarcoma in February of 2023. Through many nights at the hospital, she became attached to the Devils’ star forward, and subsequently the Devils.

Chemotherapy, radiation, and major surgery followed, but so did the Devils’ 2022-23 playoff run – games the family watched from hospital rooms as a welcome distraction. “They made that run that year and that kept us through,” said Natalie’s father, Nathan Honzalek. “It passed the time quite a bit, in a good way.”

On Friday, Nov. 7, she was finally brought face-to-face with the team that had carried her through tough times. Inside RWJBarnabas Health Hockey House, Natalie found a locker with her name on it, a personalized jersey, and gifts from the players. After watching a bit of practice, her and Giovanni – both hockey players – headed onto the ice to applause and cheers from the entire Devils team. They then proceeded to lead the entire team in post-practice stretches.