Beeston Rise Helps Resident Relive Cherished Memories with Special Ice Hockey Trip

A resident at Beeston Rise Care Home enjoyed an unforgettable evening after a team member helped fulfil her long-held wish of attending another ice hockey match.

Heather, a lifelong fan of the sport, had often spoken about her desire to return to the rink and experience the excitement of a live game once again. Determined to make her wish a reality, members of the Beeston Rise team arranged a trip to the Motorpoint Arena in Nottingham to watch a pre-season fixture between the Nottingham Panthers and the Cardiff Devils.

On 5 September, Lifestyle Assistant Jess and Care Assistant Jakub accompanied Heather to the arena, where she proudly wore her team colours and settled in to enjoy the action.

Team members said the visit quickly became an emotional occasion, with Heather moved to tears as she returned to a venue that held many treasured memories from her younger years.

Throughout the evening, she shared stories from her past, recalling memories of attending events at the arena, meeting her first love there and even learning to dance in the same venue. The outing provided an opportunity for Heather to reconnect with significant moments from her life and reminisce about experiences that remained close to her heart.

The evening also included a touching act of kindness from a young Panthers supporter, who gifted Heather a puck she had received from one of the players during the warm-up, encouraging her to keep it as a memento of the game.

As the match got underway, Heather was fully engrossed in the action, following every moment on the ice with enthusiasm. Her excitement continued to grow throughout the evening, particularly when she was selected to receive a team jersey during a crowd giveaway by the Panthers’ mascot, Paws.

The jersey has since taken pride of place in Heather’s room as a reminder of the special occasion.

The match itself provided plenty of entertainment, and staff said Heather became increasingly animated as the game progressed, cheering on her team and thoroughly enjoying the atmosphere.

Before leaving, the group made time for Heather to have a photograph taken with Paws, a particularly meaningful moment as she owns a Paws teddy bear that she keeps with her regularly.

Reflecting on the evening, Heather said her favourite part was “watching the players whizz around on the ice again, just like before.”

The following day, she was still enthusiastically sharing stories about the trip with fellow residents and staff.

Beeston Rise said the outing highlighted the importance of supporting residents to pursue their interests, revisit meaningful places and continue creating new experiences. For Heather, the trip was about far more than watching a hockey game—it was an opportunity to reconnect with cherished memories, revisit a place of personal significance and make new memories to treasure.