y Randy Starkman Olympic Sports Reporter

When the Albany River Rats left town for Charlotte at the end of last season, 11-year-old Zach “Bug” Bennett was determined to follow his favourite hockey team. And he meant literally follow them.

Bennett fell in love with hockey and the River Rats right around the time his health troubles were at their worst. He suffers from neurofibromatosis, a condition that causes tumours to grow on nerve tissue and creates skin and bone abnormalities. There’s no cure, but the tumours can be removed.

Bennett endured more than 20 operations, including the amputation of both legs.

http://www.thestar.com/sports/hockey...es-hockey?bn=1