It’s a special Easter weekend for a long-time Ottawa Senators fan in Antigonish, N.S.

Thanks to a team of caring nurses, and a local recreation hockey league, Scott MacGillivray will be attending this weekend’s NHL game when the Ottawa Senators host the Toronto Maple Leafs.

The trip will take place in between MacGillivray’s dialysis treatments.

“It started way back in the day,” says MacGillivray of his Senators obsession. “Whenever they first became part of the league and ever since, I haven’t looked back.”

MacGillivray wears his Senators coat, jersey and cap each time he visits St. Martha’s Hospital.

He has had four kidney transplants over the years, but all were rejected. Now he has to visit the Antigonish hospital three days a week for kidney dialysis treatments.

Despite his health issues, MacGillivray’s upbeat attitude is an inspiration for staff and other patients.

“Uplifting, happy all the time,” says dialysis unit nurse Paula Astephen. “Actually, as long as I’ve known Scotty, Scotty runs in the unit and runs out. He has more energy than anybody I know.”

Working together, the dialysis unit staff and a gentlemen’s hockey league have made it possible for him to travel to Ottawa for the big game this weekend.

“When I went to the representative for the league, it was automatic,” says Allie MacDonald of the Bulldog Gentlemen’s Hockey League. “They thought it was just a great idea. They’re people who’ve gotten a lot of enjoyment out of hockey and we thought if we could, sorta spread that enjoyment Scotty’s way.”

MacGillivray can’t wait.

“I just was, for the first time ever, as these guys know, speechless. I said, ‘I didn’t know what to say.’ I said, ‘it’s the best news a little fella could ever receive.’”

MacGillivray says it’s amazing to know the community has helped him to realize a dream.

“More love than what I could have ever expected in my lifetime.As I say, with what I’ve been through, it’s the greatest, the greatest gift ever.”

MacGillivray has one more treatment, on Friday before his big trip. He leaves bright and early Saturday morning and returns Sunday night for another dialysis treatment on Monday.

With files from CTV Atlantic's Dan MacIntosh