Pittsburgh Penguins trade in skates to spend day at Children's Hospital
The Pittsburgh Penguins stepped off the ice Tuesday to make a difference in the community.
The entire team spent the day at Children's Hospital for their annual visit with patients and their families.
Members of the team spent the day handing out gifts, taking photos and signing autographs.
Rachel Petrucelli, president of the UPMC Children's Hospital Foundation, said patients look forward to the event and are always filled with excitement to see the team.
"They love it. Their faces delight with so much excitement to see these players that they see playing every game on TV, to come to their bedside, talk to them, find out what they're interested in, just connect. It's authentic, it's so impressive," Petrucelli said.
It's not only exciting for them but also for the team.
"Anything we can do to bring a smile, or try to interact with them, try to cheer them up makes this such a great experience for everyone," Penguins defenseman Kris Letang said.
Tuesday's visit was part of the Penguins' "Hockey Fights Cancer Initiative," which is a league-wide program that runs through the month of November to raise money and cancer awareness.
