Landon Wilson is a hockey player who takes nothing for granted. The Phoenix Coyotes winger goes full-throttle every shift, hoping to make something happen.

Wilson also takes that same approach off the ice, especially when it comes to his charity endeavors. He tries to utilize his free time and status as a pro athlete to make a difference for those less fortunate.

"We're fortunate to do what we're doing and we shouldn't take that for granted," said Wilson, who suffered a season-ending eye injury last December in a game against the Washington Capitals. "For myself, I feel going to children's hospitals or just hospitals in general and seeing little kids mostly that are going through such a tough time makes me not take anything for granted. I realize, like with my eye, things can change in a heartbeat.

Landon Wilson receives a kiss via air mail from a special friend.

"When I got hit in the eye in December, things changed," Wilson recalled. "I didn't know if I was going to be able to play this game again. (Now) I just live every day the best way I can and I have fun with life. I just really enjoy what I'm doing and don't take it for granted. When you give back to the community you make fans and friends and people understand that we're just like everyone else. Hockey is just what we do. We play the game for a living and that's our job."

But it's not in Wilson's job description to go out of his way for those in need and make countless charity appearances. He does that all on his own. To give you a better understanding of just how much this guy cares, one only needs to look back to Dec. 13, the fateful night he was struck in the eye by a deflected shot. While wracked with concerns regarding his own health, Wilson still made sure he found one of his teammates to take his place at a charity function he was scheduled to attend the next day. He got that done before he left the arena to attend to his injury.

The eye injury left Wilson with a torn retina that he required two surgeries, one exploratory and one major, within 24 hours. He also had to spend a week in the hospital recovering from the wound and the subsequent procedures. But once he was released, Wilson couldn't stay away from the hospital. The only difference was Wilson wasn't going to see his own doctors. Rather he went back to see the children he missed. As a matter of fact, he started doing more visits after he found out he was sidelined for the remainder of the 2002-03 season.

"The injury made me put everything into perspective," Wilson said. "I had an opportunity to do more visits because during the season we're either traveling or in different cities or at home for a couple of days and I'm a big family man. So when I'm at home I like to spend time with my family, but this gave me an opportunity to get out more and do more things with different charity groups."

"He tugs at the hearts of little kids because they sense that he genuinely cares about them," said Heather Bennett, the director of community relations for the Coyotes. "Landon takes the time to really talk to the kids and get to know them. He's not dedicated to one foundation; he's dedicated to all children. He is so selfless and thinks of others at all times. Landon is just unbelievable."

While he may not cater to one charity in particular, Wilson does do a lot of work with the Best Buddies program in Arizona, a non-profit organization that helps individuals with developmental disabilities by providing them with opportunities for socialization and integrated employment.

"I got involved with Best Buddies over a year ago because I believe everyone needs friends and Best Buddies helps to make that happen on campuses around the world.

"Best Buddies is a program that's a non-profit organization in Arizona that creates one-on-one friendships between kids that have disabilities like down syndrome and stuff like that with kids that are in the same high school. The program allows these kids to create one-on-one friendships between the two and the kids realize what these special kids go through every day. They see them happy and enjoying every day for what it's worth. They realize what's really important in life. It's a program that creates these friendships between kids that honestly probably wouldn't become friends if they didn't have this program."

Wilson also likes to reinforce the importance of getting an education to all the kids he meets.

"I feel going to children's hospitals or just hospitals in general and seeing little kids mostly that are going through such a tough time makes me not take anything for granted." - Landon Wilson

"We can only play this game for so long," Wilson said. "I always encourage kids to always continue with their education because you never know what tomorrow holds. It's always something to fall back on. I tell them that if you do want to go pursue the Olympics or boxing, for example, or something that takes you away from school, you should always go back and get your education. I always stress that it's cool to go to school and that school's fun. Yes, it's a lot of hard work, but you'll always have that to fall back on. I stress to them that you can do a lot with an education these days. It allows you to be better prepared for your future."

In appreciation for his efforts and encouraging words, Wilson was awarded the "Outstanding Community Leader Award" by Best Buddies.

"Landon is a genuine, caring individual who helps Best Buddies Arizona because he cares for the children the program touches," said Michele Spidel, a board member and volunteer for Best Buddies. "He does not want to be a name or a figure head in the organization, he only wants to be personally involved with the kids."

"The award from Best Buddies meant a lot, but I don't do those things to get recognized," Wilson said. "You do it out of the goodness of your heart. It was great to get honored. They presented me with the award at a game and just to see the excitement in the kids' eyes when they were down on the bench that meant more to me than getting that reward. We had them stay for the game and the original plan was for them to watch me play, but I was hurt. So I watched the whole game up in the suite with them and just really enjoyed the night."

Wilson hopes to get back on the ice this coming season for another full NHL campaign. His injury only allowed him to play in 31 games last year, so he's eager for the 2003-04 season to get under way.

"The award from Best Buddies meant a lot, but I don't do those things to get recognized. You do it out of the goodness of your heart. It was great to get honored." - Landon Wilson

"I'm really excited to play this season," Wilson said. "I feel confident that I will be able to play at the level I was playing at last year. I did need some time to let my eye heal. I basically went through a process where I was learning to see all over again. It's not going to be as good as it was before, but good enough where I feel comfortable and confident in myself to play again."

He will have to make some adjustments though.

"I'm going to have to wear a shield to protect my eye," he said. "I've never worn a shield before, but it's something I'm going to have to get used to and I'm getting used to it right now in the summer when I'm out there skating."

And when he's not on the ice trying to improve his game, Wilson can either be found at home with his family or in the Pediatrics' ward of a local hospital making some kids laugh.

"The smiles on kids' faces is what drives me," Wilson said. "I do a lot with kids. I enjoy seeing them smile whether we're going bowling, or going to paint pottery or we're going to a movie or lunch, it just adds a memory to them that I think they'll always remember."

But what the kids mostly remember about Wilson is how much he cares.

"It is my hope that our younger players will look at Landon as a role model," Coyotes' Senior Executive Vice President of Hockey Operations Cliff Fletcher said. "His compassion for others makes him unique. He epitomizes what a professional athlete's commitment to the community should be. The Phoenix Coyotes are proud to have him on our team and even prouder of his role in the community."

Rob Picarello covers the NHL for NHL.com.