For nearly two decades, his son has been by his side for just about all of it. Their relationship has been strengthened thanks to their shared love of sports and faith in God.<\/p>\n
Matty, as he\u2019s affectionately known, has cerebral palsy. He can\u2019t walk or talk, but his impact has been felt by so many. And the love Paul has for his son is undeniable.<\/p>\n
Raising a special needs child comes with some substantial challenges, but Paul calls his son \u201cthe greatest gift\u201d he\u2019s ever received. Likewise, Matty\u2019s been able to use his life to be a gift to others.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe try to use our platform to spread the word and try to raise help for special needs to give any type of person some hope,\u201d Paul said. <\/p>\n
There\u2019s something about the game of hockey in particular that captures Matty\u2019s attention. When he\u2019s not in his wheelchair, he typically lays on the ground. But when Paul turns a Pittsburgh Penguins game on the television, Matty sits up straight to watch his favorite team.<\/p>\n
His body language changes when he\u2019s at an Ice Flyers game as well, and it\u2019s clear to anyone around him how much it means for him to be near the ice.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI take him to the games and he sits right next to me,\u201d Paul said. \u201cHe\u2019s part of the broadcast now. He takes to the hockey, and I guess he takes after his dad. He can\u2019t walk or talk, but when he sees the movement, left to right, when he\u2019s at the game, he enjoys it. He gets into it.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Matty2-1-800x450.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Matthew and Paul Chestnutt. (Photo courtesy of Paul Chestnutt)<\/p>\n
During the 2010-11 Ice Flyers season, Paul started Matthew Chestnutt Scores! Charities, a 501(c)(3) organization that seeks to raise awareness and money for the special needs community in Pensacola and the Northwest Florida area. The organization also runs the Power Play Pledge Drive, where fans can donate for every Ice Flyers power play goal to support various local special needs organizations.<\/p>\n
Through the charity and his involvement with his father\u2019s career, Matty is showing that disabilities don\u2019t have to limit someone\u2019s ability to participate in things they enjoy or make a difference. Paul said that\u2019s especially true of his son\u2019s involvement at their church \u2014 Cathedral of Sacred Heart Church in Pensacola, where a banner of a young Matty receiving communion from the bishop is proudly displayed out front.<\/p>\n
Each Sunday, Paul posts a photo on social media of Matty at church in hopes of encouraging other parents of special needs children to prioritize taking their children to church. Even for those who can\u2019t speak or walk, \u201cyou never know what they\u2019re going to pick up\u201d in the sermon, Paul said.<\/p>\n
Matty responds to the music \u2014 particularly the bells \u2014 and has developed a great relationship with his priest and bishop. They typically sit in the last row because it\u2019s wheelchair accessible, and Matty embraces the priest when he enters the sanctuary, Paul said.<\/p>\n
Matty\u2019s condition occasionally leads to him being a bit overstimulated by the music and other surroundings, and he can be loud sometimes. But even if he was quiet, his absence would still be noticed if he\u2019s not in attendance. It\u2019s hard to miss Paul walking Matty to the front of church to receive communion.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe highlight of my week is taking my son to communion because he is doing something that every normal human being is doing, and that\u2019s receiving the body of Christ,\u201d Paul said.\u00a0 \u201cThe expressions I see when we\u2019re walking back are priceless. He\u2019s touching lives. He\u2019s making a difference. They see a special needs kid with his dad wheeling him down the aisle and receiving communion. Not too many people do that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Matty\u2019s journey has reached far and wide, in and around Pensacola and across the country. He\u2019s rubbed shoulders with some of the biggest names in sports, like NFL stars Josh Allen and Jalen Hurts while helping his dad cover the Senior Bowl.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe go and he sits right next to me during the radio show, and then we\u2019ll go to a practice,\u201d Paul said. \u201cWe\u2019ll go down afterwards on the field and he\u2019s with me interviewing the players and coaches.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Matty3-1-800x450.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Matthew Chestnutt with Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen. (Photo courtesy of Paul Chestnutt)<\/p>\n
One year, one of those coaches was former Houston Texans coach Bill O\u2019Brien, who also has a special needs son. Paul was able to share a meaningful conversation with O\u2019Brien about their similar journeys raising special needs children.<\/p>\n
But perhaps the pinnacle experience for Matty came in March 2023, when he got to attend a Tampa Bay Lightning game against the Penguins and was invited to go down to the tunnel and meet players, including Penguins star Sidney Crosby. Paul and Matty also joined the broadcast during intermission.<\/p>\n
They\u2019ve also been interviewed by the NHL Network<\/a>, and are now enshrined in their local sports Hall of Fame, next to names like former NFL stars Derrick Brooks and Emmitt Smith, track and field star Justin Gatlin, MLB player Don Sutton, and former manager Buck Showalter.<\/p>\n Standing next to his son on stage, Paul used his induction speech to share his son\u2019s story and encourage others with special needs. He talked about how God can use anyone for a specific purpose, regardless of their physical makeup \u2014 that a disability is no match for the power of God.<\/p>\n \u201cThere wasn\u2019t a dry eye in the place,\u201d Paul said. \u201cHe can\u2019t walk and he can\u2019t talk, but he was talking pretty strong. He was being heard pretty loud and clear on that night.\u201d<\/p>\n >> Do you know Christ personally? Learn how you can commit your life to Him. <<<\/a><\/p>\n RELATED STORIES:
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