Following practice at the Bell Sports Complex in Brossard, players headed to the Montreal Children's Hospital, Shriners Hospital and the Centre hospitalier universitaire Sainte-Justine, to spend some quality time with young patients and their families, present them with gifts and autographed photos, and offer up words of support and encouragement during this special time of year.
For captain Max Pacioretty, who also just happens to be the father of two young boys - Lorenzo and Maximus - the Canadiens' annual hospital visit has taken on extra significance since he first became a dad nearly three years ago. Carrying on the tradition that Hall-of-Famer Jean Believeau began 52 years ago means everything to him now.
"When you see kids that we visit, when they're similar in age to your children, it definitely makes it closer to your heart," said Pacioretty, who toured a few floors at the Montreal Children's Hospital with fellow fathers, Alexander Radulov, Alexei Emelin and Tomas Plekanec. "You can see your kids sometimes in some of these kids' eyes. It touches you. That's why we do this. It's a special feeling knowing that we can help out. I don't think you realize how special it is until you have kids of your own."
A father of two in his own right, Paul Byron has a genuine appreciation for visits like these.
"It means a lot to me. When you're there for the birth of your children, you always hope for the best. But, you never know, it could be you at the hospital," said Byron. "Visiting these kids and seeing the smiles we can bring to them and their families really makes us feel good. It also makes us really appreciate everything we have at home."
Brendan Gallagher, meanwhile, made a point of stressing just how sobering an experience these visits can really be. There really isn't anything quite like it over the course of the season.
"It's tough to see these kids. It's terrible for anyone who has to go through it, particularly children. There's so much for them to live for and experience," said Gallagher. "What we always see is the support they have around the clock and their families right there beside them, 24 hours a day. It puts things into perspective."
It definitely does. Just ask Pacioretty, who clearly has a great deal of admiration for those youngsters and their loved ones doing everything in their power to stay strong and positive during an especially tough time in their lives.
"They're all fighters. You see these kids and they're going through so much. To put a smile on their faces and to be genuinely so happy to see us, it means a lot," concluded Pacioretty. "I got so many compliments from kids, like "Good luck" and "You guys are doing great!" It makes you kind of look at yourself and say "If I was in their shoes, would I be that positive?" It's just amazing to be able to interact with these kids."
