Finn Keaney, an 11-year-old from Cairo living with Cystic Fibrosis, celebrates with hockey legend Adam Graves after signing a one-day contract with the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden in New York City on December 2.
NY Rangers/Garden of Dreams Foundation
Finn Keaney, Make A Wish/Garden of Dreams child, takes the ice to join Igor Shesterkin #31 for the national anthem prior to the game between the New York Rangers and the Dallas Stars at Madison Square Garden on December 2, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Jared Silber/NHLI via Getty Images)
Jared Silber/NHLI via Getty Images
Finn Keaney, Make A Wish/Garden of Dreams child takes the ice to join Igor Shesterkin #31 for the national anthem prior to the game between the New York Rangers and the Dallas Stars at Madison Square Garden on December 2, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Jared Silber/NHLI via Getty Images)
Jared Silber/NHLI via Getty Images
Finn Keaney, Make A Wish/Garden of Dreams child takes the ice for the national anthem prior to the game between the New York Rangers and the Dallas Stars at Madison Square Garden on December 2, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Jared Silber/NHLI via Getty Images)
Jared Silber/NHLI via Getty Images
Igor Shesterkin #31 of the New York Rangers greets Garden of Dreams participant Finn Keaney (R) during the National Anthem ahead of the first period against the Dallas Stars at Madison Square Garden on December 02, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
Sarah Stier/Getty Images
Finn Keaney has always been a big fan of the New York Rangers hockey club and earlier this month, the 11-year-old from Cairo inked a one-day contract with his beloved squad at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
The contract agreement didn’t run in the agate section of newspapers as most transactions often do, but that mattered little to Keaney, who signed the ceremonial pact beside Ranger legend Adam Graves and MSG Networks broadcaster John Giannone.
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The event was a part of the Rangers’ “Garden of Dreams Night” and set up through the Make-A-Wish charity for Keaney, who lives with Cystic Fibrosis.
“It goes back to Finn starting hockey. He goes to Cairo-Durham Elementary,” his mother, Natalya, said. “Saugerties (hockey league) does the Junior Rangers (youth hockey league) and he did two years of Junior Rangers. Once it came to what his wish would be, he wanted to be a Ranger. He’s gone and seen them, watched them on TV.”
Finn Keaney, an 11-year-old from Cairo living with Cystic Fibrosis, stands with hockey legend Adam Graves after signing a one-day contract with the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden in New York City on December 2.
NY Rangers/Garden of Dreams Foundation
Keaney, a goaltender for his Saugerties Mustangs hockey team, has played the game since he was 8 years old and was able to meet his favorite player, Rangers netminder Igor Shesterkin, as part of the experience.
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“It was awesome,” Finn Keaney said. “Us goalies are a special breed.”
Another highlight of the day included Keaney lining up with the team as an honorary goalie starter and taking a skate on the Garden ice.
“There was a moment when Finn went on the ice, skating next to Shesterkin and the fist bump coming out onto the ice,” Natalya Keaney said. “It was so sweet to watch it and so special a moment.”
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Finn Keaney, Make A Wish/Garden of Dreams child takes the ice to join Igor Shesterkin #31 for the national anthem prior to the game between the New York Rangers and the Dallas Stars at Madison Square Garden on December 2, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Jared Silber/NHLI via Getty Images)
Jared Silber/NHLI via Getty Images
Finn’s father, Shawn, an avid hockey fan, admitted to being a bit jealous of Finn as he skated onto the ice.
“Seeing him, even before the big moment where they announce the players, even during rehearsal, watching him skate out onto the Madison Square Garden ice by himself, that is a huge thing,” Shawn Keaney said. “[I said] ‘Hey dude, you are on Madison Square Garden ice by yourself’. Not many people get to say that. It was difficult from my perspective growing up a hockey fan. Looking at the ice, I just wanted to touch it.”
“Best ice ever,” Finn Keaney said.
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Following the game, the Keaney family was introduced to several Rangers players who came out of the locker room to sign autographs following the team’s 3-2 overtime win against the Dallas Stars.
Finn Keaney, an 11-year-old from Cairo living with Cystic Fibrosis, celebrates with hockey legend Adam Graves after signing a one-day contract with the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden in New York City on December 2.
NY Rangers/Garden of Dreams Foundation
“I liked the part at the end with the autograph signing,” Finn Keaney said. “I got seven or eight.”
“After the game, a bunch of players came out to sign stuff. They all were very accommodating to everyone,” Natalya Keaney said. “They went above and beyond any expectations we had. They took his dream and made it so much more. They set up so many great things and he looked great doing it. It was amazing.”
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Despite the game going into overtime after a 7 p.m. start, the adrenaline from the experience overrode any thoughts of Finn being sleepy on the ride back to the hotel.
“He was processing what had happened. He was definitely very content,” Shawn Keaney said. “He didn’t fall asleep for a while.”