STEAMBOAT SPRINGS — Small gestures can make a big difference in someone’s existence. Only ask the improbable duo we met Steamboat Springs, Colorado recently.

It’therefore there, in the Routt County community, where a high school formed a bond with a former CNN anchor turned baseball announcer.

“We have a lot of great hockey games here,” explained Shannon Lukens, the announcer.

Lukens has called plenty of games at Howelsen Ice Arena over the last couple of years, but few games have been as special as the one she attended the other night.

It was ‘Pink the Rink’ night at the ice arena in Steamboat; a night dedicated to hockey and bringing attention to breast cancer awareness.

Team members from the Steamboat Wranglers hockey team wore pink jerseys to show their support during their game against the Pueblo Bulls.

“It feels really good to place them [the pink jerseys] on and go out and play and show your support in a different way than most would,” stated Adam Albert, the group ’s captain.

To get Lukens, the game had an extra special significance. She had been diagnosed with breast feeding and it was her first day back at the rink to keep her announcing responsibilities.

“Unfortunately I was just diagnosed with it and October 6th I had a major surgery,” Lukens said. “[But] I rallied and made it to the rink to do my job”.

Plenty of people attended the game that night, including a high school senior named Kyle Taulman. 

Taulman is an up and coming top Paralympic skier in the United States. He lives in Steamboat Springs with his family.

“In 2018 I got the opportunity to go Korea with another adaptive organization as an adaptive ambassador for the games,” Taulman said with pride.

See, Taulman lost his ability to walk when he was just a kid.

“I was really paralyzed at the age of two out of a cancerous tumor that wrapped around my spinal cord,” he clarified.

Not allowing his disability get in his way, Taulman pushed himself to become a great Paralympic skier. 

“It’s freedom, really,” Taulman said. “Because in the [wheel] chair you’re confined”.

Aside from having an athlete, even Taulman is a remarkably talented singer. In reality, he sings the National Anthem at some of the hockey games at Howelsen Ice Arena and also different areas around town.

“I’ve been a singer for as long as I can remember,” Taulman said.

“He’s crowd favourite! Since the home is knocked down by him everyone goes crazy! ” stated Lukens.

Taulman certainly knocked the home of the ‘Pink the Rink’ match. While he was doing the National Anthem, he’d something special: He scooped a bouquet of roses behind his wheelchair. 

Once the amount was whole, he wheeled over to Lukens and handed them to her.

“I had no idea what was going on because I was getting ready for the next line up,” Lukens said.

“I gave her some flowers to kind of commemorate the nighttime ,” Taulman responded. “Of course being someone who had cancer when I was younger I’ve always supported people who have cancer”.

“It was the most bizarre thing. It was so considerate! ” Lukens stated.

Obviously, that gesture melted the hearts of everybody . Lukens’ the nighttime sky, grin lit !

“Any time you can make any kind of kind gesture is an opportunity to change someone’s mood. Make their day,” Taulman said. 

True sportsmanship doesn’t always come in the form of goals and wins, sometimes it’s shown with kindness and compassion.

“Just be a fantastic person. It doesn’t even must be on a huge scale,” Taulman said.

In terms of Lukens, she discovered she&rsquo. Between this news and Taulman’s kind gesture, the hockey announcer couldn’t be more thrilled.

“It was a night”! Lukens stated.

On a side note: it’s been Taulman’s fantasy to execute the National Anthem at the Pepsi Center in Denver.

“It’s really something [the National Anthem] that represents our nation as a whole and getting to sing it is a huge honor for me personally,” Taulman clarified. “Getting to perform it at this huge scale will be astounding!”

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