{coyotes} Teen with Down Syndrome gets surprise prom date

Tuesday 26 May 2015

{coyotes} Teen with Down Syndrome gets surprise prom date

The "Nobel Prize for kindness" has been awarded to retired Swedish hockey player Mathias Tjarnqvist.

At least that's what Sofie Ruther's father, Joakim, thinks should happen.

Tjarnqvist will be taking Sofie, an 18-year-old high school senior who has Down Syndrome, to the prom after Sofie was having trouble finding a date to the dance.

"To experience the prom again is fantastic fun, there was no doubt [in my mind] when I was asked," Tjärnqvist, 36, told Helsingborgs Dagblad, a Swedish regional newspaper.

The story spread quickly in Sweden last week, and the Ruther family has received many well wishes as Sofie prepares for her belle-of-the-ball moment. She'll be wearing navy blue, by the way, and Mathias says he'll be sure to match with his suit.

The Swedish hockey star actually has a long history with the family and even used to babysit the kids when they were younger. He also often sent them post cards during his four seasons in the NHL with the Dallas Stars and Phoenix Coyotes.

"So many have got in touch with us," said Ruther. "They all think that Mathias is fantastic."

(We think Mathias is pretty fantastic, too.)