Avalanche Makes Annual Holiday Hospital Visit

AURORA, Colo.--The Colorado Avalanche made its annual holiday visit to Children's Hospital Colorado on Tuesday, as players, coaches, mascot Bernie and the Ram Trucks Avalanche Ice Girls helped spread holiday cheer and brighten the day of some very special children.
This marked the 19th year the Avs have visited patients and their families at the hospital to bring smiles during difficult times. It warmed the hearts of those in attendance to be a part of this uplifting experience during the holiday season.

For the veterans, it is a reminder of how fortune they are to impact the lives of such amazing children, even for a brief couple minutes.
"It's always one of our favorite days of the year," said captain Gabriel Landeskog. "We get a chance to try to come in and brighten these kids' day and put a smile on their face. For us, it's easy to forget how fortune we are and what a great position that we are in, that we can actually go and do that and make someone's day."
Players and coaches were broken into five groups and visited the young patients throughout the different units of the hospital, including neurosurgery, oncology, behavioral, breathing institute and general pediatrics.
"I think in their position, the days in the hospital go by slow, they are doing their treatment and stuff," said alternate captain Matt Duchene. "It's a battle. The fact that we can come in and try to brighten up their day and kind of break up the monotonous day-to-day fight they're doing, they're going through, it's important and it's nice for us to do."

Meanwhile for Avs rookie Mikko Rantanen, it was a new experience and something he was able to enjoy with his teammates.
"It's nice to get a smile on these kids' faces. I think it's a big thing. It's a big thing for the organization and the players, too; we enjoy this," Rantanen said about his first time at the children's hospital. "We just go room-to-room and try to ask 'What's up?,' trying to get them smiling."
The squad visited patients' rooms, signed autographs, distributed Bernie stuffed animals, and took pictures with the children and their families. One fan even brought his own puck for some of the players to sign.
"The kids in here are in a tough condition, it's nice to come in and lift their spirits a little bit," said Duchene. "It's something I always look forward to, coming in and trying to help put some smiles on some faces, especially this time of year."
While some children were dealing with more severe cases than others, it was an overall special afternoon for the team to see the kids smile and forget about some of those battles for a short time.
"It's a neat feeling. Sometimes you walk in a room and you can tell that they are having a rough day, and you bring out a little Bernie doll and all of a sudden their face just lights up," said Landeskog. "It is a good feeling, and we certainly enjoy that part of it."

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