MavPuck Blog: The Story Behind #PlayFor13

Two years ago, four of us were in Kalamazoo, Michigan when a pivotal moment happened. With two weeks to go in the regular season, the Mavs were playing in a crucial NCHC series. With just seconds to go in the second period, the Mavs were on the penalty kill. Senior forward Zahn Raubenheimer went down to block a shot, and the puck broke his first metatarsal bone on his foot. Although injured, Raubenheimer got up and tried to block another shot. Time ran out in the period and his teammates on the ice immediately surrounded him and helped him off the ice.

Maverick fan Lindsay Schellhardt captured that moment on camera:

That moment was his last in his hockey career. But it sparked a movement, and a hashtag: #PlayFor13.

John Sparano came up with the #PlayFor13 hashtag and it quickly spread. Here is John's original tweet:

A young man blocked a shot broke his foot ended his college career and what did he do? Got up and tried to block another. #heart #playfor13
— John Sparano IV (@JSparanoIV) February 26, 2014

Jon designed a t-shirt logo that we were going to sell to show fan support for Zahn. Unfortunately, UNO compliance intervened and we weren't able to produce them, but it remains a powerful image.

Zahn was never able to play for the Mavs again. His injury was season-ending, and he's now enrolled in medical school.

One more Zahn story:
Zahn was already a fan favorite in my family. He was my niece Olivia's favorite player. At a Skate With the Mavs event in December 2013, I introduced Olivia to Zahn, telling him, "Olivia is your biggest fan." He looked her right in the eye and replied, "No, Olivia, I'm YOUR biggest fan."

Awwww.....