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Breck's Biggest Hockey Fan Has Special Day On The Ice

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- We should all be so lucky to love where we work as much as Tim Michaels. The 31-year-old has cerebral palsy, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and is blind in one eye.

He's been working in the Breck High School dining room for 10 years now.

"I just don't let it interfere with what I'm doing," he said. "I get to see all the kids and help make sure the kids get what they need."

His favorites are the hockey players.

Four years ago, they invited Tim to a game. He's rarely missed one since.

"I try to make every home game," Michaels said. "I try to make as many road games as I can."

You'll find him in his usual spot behind the net, cheering loudly for his favorite team.

"For one, hockey is actually my favorite sport of them all," he said. "And two, I like supporting the school that I work for."

And of course, the kids he sees at work.

"I've gotten to know them," he said. "I'm actually friends with a lot of them on Facebook."

After years of watching, Tim started playing last year himself in the Minnesota Special Hockey League.

"I just look at playing my best," he said. "I try to do what I can to help the team."

At his game on Sunday afternoon, Tim had some special guests. The Breck boys he always cheers for? Here to cheer for him.

"We're here to support our buddy Tim," Breck co-captain Tyler Lindstrom said. "He comes to all of our games so we figured we could all come out to one of his."

Tim was touched.

"It does make me feel good to see them come out to support me," he said.

Tim's coach teared up when talking about it.

"Fabulous stuff," Dana Thiede said. "It became clear that it's not just a one-way thing. It's two-way. You know?"

The plan had been in the works for a while.

"We made this a priority to come out here," Lindstrom said.

But then, a moment you couldn't plan.

A shot, a rebound, kicked right out to Tim. He buried it. The Breck players he cheers for? They went wild cheering for him.

"He did what he had to do," Lindstrom said with a proud smile. "The goalie was laying down, he put it over him."

It's a moment that wouldn't be complete without getting to celebrate it with his biggest fans. Tim headed straight for the stands, raising his arms in triumph, in front of the Breck players.

"I love the celly coming by and waving to us," Lindstrom said. "That was fun."

Tim summarized it best.

"It's special to see them come to watch me," he said.

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