Montreal Canadiens players spread holiday joy by visiting young patients in hospital

Montreal Canadiens players visited children’s hospitals in the city Wednesday, spreading holiday cheer for young patients.

The players visited the Montreal Children’s Hospital, CHU Sainte-Justine and the Montreal Shriners Hospital with one main goal: scoring some smiles for sick kids and their loved ones.

“It’s nice to be able to make a difference, and you see those smiles, even if it’s for a couple of minutes. I think it goes a long way,” said Canadiens player Alex Newhook.

“You know, it kind of brightens our day when you get to see those kinds of smiles,” he added.

“We’re very privileged to be in the position we are and to be able to lighten some kids’ days in this situation. It’s pretty cool to see.”

The annual holiday initiative has been a tradition for more than 50 years.

The children got a chance to interact with some of their favourite players, and were gifted Canadiens gift bags.

“It’s important to do this kind of stuff, and we’re pretty privileged to have our health and be where we are,” said Habs star player Patrik Laine.

The Habs were split into different groups in order to give as many children possible the chance to interact with some of their favourite players. Newhook, Emil Heineman and Laine were some of the players present.

“We go in there and we have a little gift bag for them, just talk to them a bit, and hang out, have some cards and stuff. But it’s mostly just getting in there, talking to the kids, and seeing how it’s going to make them smile,” said Heineman.

Claudia Martino was a former patient at the Montreal Children’s. Now, at 23, she’s doing much better and volunteers at the hospital. It’s a full circle moment for her.

“It was like, now that I can actually, like, I’m okay and feel better and am able to actually do it, and I’ll remember this moment, so it’s great,” she said.

Besides winning the Stanley Cup, we wanted to know – what’s on these players’ holiday wish list.

“Probably just to, you know, all of us and all our families to stay healthy, and, you know, I think that’s the biggest thing, probably. I don’t have too many things on my wishlist, but just that, you know, everybody has a happy, happy holiday and stays healthy, and I think that goes a long way,” said Laine.