Freddy Gaudreau believes those with Down syndrome have a unique ability to be fully present. They embrace the moment and live with their hearts wide open! The Minnesota Wild star just talked about rocking socks with his teammate as an honor to his nephew Noah, who suffers from Down syndrome. But what exactly did he mean by rocking the socks?

Jessie Pierce explained it on X with a post that read, “Freddy Gaudreau, whose nephew Noah has Down Syndrome, had the idea for mismatched socks.” The pictures captured a scene where the Wilds wore mismatched socks and the goalie with mismatched pads in a practice session. After all, it was all about spreading the message and opening our hearts to differences! And, if you ask Gaudreau by any chance what it was all about, he would answer, “He means the world to me. He’s the most incredible person I know.”

For Gaudreau, it was a lovely moment to honor his godson, who meant everything to him. But it wasn’t just about wearing mismatched socks—it was about bringing endless joy, laughter, and love into the little ones’ lives! Noah reflected warmth and kindness with everyone around, and the Minnesota Wild Star wanted to highlight it in the right way. And he did pretty well. With his teammates joining and the goalies going all out with mismatched pads, it was all that hit him right in the feels! “Literally I was emotional, and it means the world to me,” he said. 

However, Gaudreau wasn’t the only one feeling this way. While the entire Minnesota Wild team stood alongside him, with each sock and pad a symbol of inclusion and love, there was another story unfolding on the rink—one just as heartfelt and ambitious.

Who else stood with the Minnesota Wild?

It was Utah Hockey Club’s forward, Michael Carcone, who got the chance to honor someone with Down syndrome who had become family now—Welles, his neighbor! “We have a fun relationship. We try to keep it light. It’s just nice when you’re not at the rink to take your mind off things and you get somebody like that makes you smile,” Carcone said. Whether it was roughhousing, playing Paw Patrol, or sharing laughs over Sunday dinners, the family shared a bond that was effortless and pure.

And, since the day arrived, Carcone knew he must do something meaningful—not just for Welles, but for every child like him to be loved and admired. And guess what? Just like the Minnesota Wild, the entire Utah Hockey Club rallied behind him. The players stepped onto the ice with mismatched socks that were a symbol of love, inclusion, and awareness. “It made me so happy because people look up to these guys. To see them be leaders and show other people, ‘hey we’re celebrating this,’ that’s really special, and that’s important,” said Welles’s father, Oakley Peterson.

But before the game began, Carcone knew what he had to do, perhaps to make the little boy feel extra special. He brought Welles along with him for the pre-game arrivals to throw the spotlight he deserved. And, when they say hockey is the game that stands apart from the rest of the sports, they truly mean it! Even if it was the Minnesota Wild or the Utah Hockey Club, the players made sure to generate awareness by bringing their close ones to the highlights.