Wantagh's Jack Hayes, 11, signs one-day contract with the New York Atlas as he fights leukemia

Before they opened up their weekend visit to Long Island on Friday, the New York Atlas had some business to take care of.

The reigning Premier Lacrosse League champions, coming to Long Island for the first time since winning the league championship last fall, kicked off the weekend by signing Jack Hayes, an 11-year-old goalie from Wantagh who was recently diagnosed with leukemia, to a one-day contract Friday morning before their 6 p.m. game at Hofstra’s Shuart Stadium against the Boston Cannons.

Jack will be an honorary team captain for the Atlas’ second game of the weekend, Saturday night against the Maryland Whipsnakes.

“The Atlas proudly make Jack part of the team for one day,’’ Atlas coach Mike Pressler said as he and Jack signed the contract. “This honorary contract is signed in celebration of Jack, his teammates, his family, the Wantagh community, and the lacrosse community that continues to rally around him. Welcome to the Atlas, Jack.’’

“This has been the hardest thing we went through in our life,’’ said Jack’s mother, Shannon Hayes. “And to have this kind of support, just to bring a smile to his face, means everything to us.’’

Jack, who attends Wantagh Middle School and plays on The Jesters club lacrosse team, was diagnosed on Mother’s Day, after playing in a tournament game. He had complained of pain in his legs for a few weeks before, and when his parents saw how much pain he was in during his game, they took him to the hospital, where his condition was diagnosed.

The Atlas became aware of Jack after a local online newspaper, Greater Long Island, wrote a story on him. And while Jack was still in the hospital, his favorite player, Atlas goalie Liam Entenmann, reached out to him on FaceTime.

“When [Entenmann] reached out to Jack in the hospital, it was unbelievable,’’ Jack’s father, Richie Hayes, said. “He's not a man of many words, but he got off the phone and he's like, ‘That was awesome!’’’

Before the Atlas’ walk-through practice Friday, Entenmann stopped by with a swag bag for Jack. Later, at the signing ceremony, he presented him with an Atlas team helmet, and sat at the table to pose for pictures.

“It's obviously a heartbreaking situation, and I wanted to do anything I could to help him,’’ said Entenmann, who is from Point Lookout, and went to Chaminade High School. “I think that one of the really cool parts about being from Long Island and playing lacrosse on Long Island, is it's like a very incubated area. Not a lot of people leave, not a lot of people come in, so you get to know these people really well. And when I was his age, when I was in his shoes, I looked up to a lot of people . . . whether it was college or pro guys, and it was just something I had to realize — I'm now in the shoes of the guys I looked up to.

"And it's my duty, my responsibility, my obligation to pay it forward to the next guy, especially someone who's going through his situation. He grew up one town over from where I grew up, so I really felt like it was my job just to pay it forward to him, because one day he'll be in my shoes, and it's going to be his turn to pay it forward.’’

Shannon Hayes said Jack’s prognosis is good. He is undergoing chemotherapy treatments and will do so for two years. He can’t play lacrosse during that time, but he intends to get back in the net when it’s over.

“He's gonna fight, he's gonna kick butt," she said, "and he'll get back out there."