Maybe we have this all backwards.

On a day on which the 2019 Sudbury Wolves' Superhero Game theme was unveiled, it was clear that 11 year old Preston Walker was truly the one worthy of admiration.

Diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia at the age of four, Walker would undergo three years of chemo radiation treatment on his road to recovery. The treatment completed as he neared his seventh birthday, the young Star Wars fan was granted a wish, courtesy of the Children's Wish Foundation, for a family trip to Disney.

And while Wolves' co-captains Shane Bulitka and Macauley Carson and their teammates will take to the ice on November 15th adorned with the brand new Thor-inspired uniforms, the effort is truly all about Walker and the organization that made his dream come true.

"Events like this that support them (the Children's Wish Foundation) are amazing, because it means that more families can be recipients of their gifts, and they will be able to continue the work that they do," said Ashley Walker, Preston's mother, who spoke quite eloquently about both the battle that her son would face, and the impact of their journey to Florida.

"I do believe it's important," she added. "These kids go through so much and they really deserve that gift that recognizes the fight that they have. What they provided us wasn't just a trip to Disney, it was the experience of a lifetime. No money could replace that trip."

"It brought so much joy, and that sigh of relief to our family," Walker explained. "We were finally done treatment and we got to see him run around and play for the first time in so long. It's not until you experience their gifts that you truly understand what they do."

"It was literally like a red carpet was rolled out for us."

And though it was clearly the Star Wars exhibit that was at the top of the list for Preston, this certainly wasn't the end of his Disney highlights. "Roller coasters," he exclaimed. "My dad and mom encouraged me. When I went on it, at first, I was scared, but then we went on and I loved it."

"I think we went on another two more times. I didn't want to leave that ride."

As the Wolves on hand donned the commemorative jerseys, it was a reminder, once again, to Bulitka, about the key role that the OHL players accept, as idols in communities across the province, when they themselves are not all that much older than their adoring fans.

"You're still young and moving away from home yourself, and there's a challenge with that," stated the 20 year-old native of Ilderton. "But you have to remember that these kids are looking up to you, and you're always in the spotlight, so you have to watch how you act, you have to set a good example."

After registering 54 points in two full years plus in a Wolves uniform, Bulitka equalled that total on the 2018-2019 campaign alone, just missing out on the 20-goal plateau (he would finish with 19).

"It was just a matter of trusting the process," he said. "As I got older, I got more of an opportunity and just wanted to continue doing the right things - listening to my coaches and playing the system that would lead to my breakthrough."

As for the play of his team as the Central Division leaders prepare to welcome the Oshawa Generals to town for Superhero Game on November 15th, Bulitka is taking more of a "glass half full" approach.

"We're happy with where we are at in the standings," he said. "We had some tough road trips to start, some three in threes. We managed to get some wins there, but we definitely think that we can be better. We do expect to be at the top of the division, for sure."