Contest gives Moss the chance of a 'lifetime'

By Greg Chandler, FOX 21 Sports

It may have looked like a normal Saturday morning hockey practice, but it wasn't. 

The Superior Bantam B's were being coached by NHL star Phil Kessel, and they have Kyler Moss to thank for it.

"I never had a professional player come and coach as a coach," said Moss.

"I went in to get a pair of skates sharpened, and I saw the [entry] box and I read it," said Kyler.  "I said to my dad, I'm going to put one of these in here." 

"When he was filling out the thing, I'm thinking, 'Kyler, you're not going to win this thing, there's thousands of people that filling it out,'" said Mike Moss, Kyler's father.

A couple months later, the elder Moss, who's also his son's coach, gladly ate his words.

"I got a letter in the mail saying I was a potential winner," said Kyler.  "I had to sign a whole bunch of stuff and get it notarized." 

"You've got all this paperwork and you're thinking did he win this, or is this a scam?" said Mike.

It wasn't a scam.  The 15-year-old was the grand prize winner of the "Practice of a Lifetime" contest sponsored by Play it Again Sports and Nike/Bauer.  Kyler's reward was chance to practice with Kessel.

"I was just so pumped for today, I had so much fun, he said Saturday.

Kessel was supposed to skate with the Spartans, but instead he played coach.

"I wanted to get out there and do that," said Kessel.  "Unfortunately I have an injury, and I'm not able to be on the ice yet." 

"The drills that we did on the ice were from the Boston Bruins," said Mike Moss.  "They're similar but in a way they're quicker, they want flow." 

"It was fun to know that he does the same drills we do on an everyday basis," added Kyler.

Kessel worked with the kids for more than an hour, and everyone came away happy.

"He was acting like coach as he should have been," said Kyler.  "He was giving out pats on the back and advice and tips." 

"Today was great," added Mike Moss.  "Not only did the kids have fun, I had a blast."

Even Kessel enjoyed the experience.

"I enjoyed doing it and had a good time," he said.  "They talked to me, asked me some questions.  I think they had a good time."

A Madison, Wis., native, Kessel now has a new fan from his home state.

"I didn't really know about him so I researched him and now I follow him all the time," said Kyler.  "Now he is one of my favorite players."

A fan with memories that will last a lifetime.