Months after skating with Blackhawks, 12-year-old cancer survivor in high spirits

One of the Chicago Blackhawks' biggest fans is in high spirits.

Not only did 12-year-old Gabe Colon's favorite team win the Stanley Cup for the third time in six years, but Gabe himself is also playing hockey again after nearly four years of undergoing cancer treatment.

Gabe, whose family lives in Algonquin, was diagnosed with acute lymphoid leukemia in July 2011. He started treatment soon after, said his father, Tony Colon. To Gabe's disappointment, he had to give up some of his favorite activities, including playing hockey, a sport he had begun when he was 5 years old.

But Gabe's spirits were lifted when the Make-A-Wish Foundation granted him the opportunity to meet and skate with his favorite Blackhawks players last October at a practice at the United Center.

"It was very exciting," Gabe said. "My favorite part was doing some passing with (Patrick) Kane and some work with (Andrew) Shaw."

A few days later, the Blackhawks hosted Hockey Fights Cancer Night, and Gabe got to perform a ceremonial puck drop before a game.

"It brought an experience that my wife and I could never give my son. It brought a bright spot to him during his treatment," Tony Colon said. "After (more than) three years of shots and hospital visits, Gabe can look back and say, 'I had that one time I got to play with the Blackhawks,' and that will overshadow the bad stuff he had to go through."

Gabe finished his treatment in February, Tony said, just in time to join the Crystal Lake Yellowjackets hockey team for the spring season.

"I have a lot of fun with my team, and I enjoy being on the ice," Gabe said.

Though all the Blackhawks players are talented and very nice, he said, Kane would have to be his favorite.

"I like his puck handling and all his trick shots," he said, adding that he occasionally tries to replicate Kane's handiwork.

In Monday's Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final, Kane's goal to make the score 2-0, with assists from Brad Richards and Brandon Saad, was Gabe's favorite play.

The Colon family typically watches the Blackhawks games together at home - and they cheer a lot, Gabe said.

"(Watching the playoffs) this year has been fun and a little bit scary," he said. "It's really intense."

Lidia Colon said her son never fails to wear one of his many Blackhawks shirts on game days.

When the Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup in 2010 and 2013, the Colon family went to the celebratory parade in Chicago. They hope to make it to this year's parade as well.

"I'm so excited and so happy for the Blackhawks," Gabe said after Monday's win. "They are the best."