SCORING BIG WITH SICK KIDS
49th straight year team has paid visits to local hospitals
EVEN BEFORE THE HABS ARRIVED at Ste-Justine Hospital on Monday, excitement was in the air. George Parros, visiting with Léa Potvin, was among six team members who spent time at the hospital, while another group of players made the rounds at the Montreal Children’s.
Eliane Maris was excited when she learned the Montreal Canadiens planned to visit Ste-Justine Hospital and also nervous wondering what she would say to them.
“She hasn’t stopped (talking about it). ‘When are they coming? Are they coming? It’s 2 o’clock,’ ” said Emmanuel Maris, recounting his 7-yearold daughter’s anticipation.
Six Canadiens players filed into her hospital room Monday afternoon, including goalie Carey Price, forward David Desharnais and captain Brian Gionta.
They chatted, posed for pictures and presented her with a gift bag that included a Canadiens’ baseball cap, a book, a blanket and autographed photos.
Eliane spoke a bit of Greek with George Parros, her favourite Canadiens player.
Asked, after they left, how long she’s been a Habs fan, Eliane thought for a second and said: “Since I know they existed.”
Her father is also a big fan of the team.
“We don’t miss a game,” Maris said.
The excitement at the hospital was on display in the lobby where children and adults waited for the Canadiens to arrive, some clutching cellphones primed to take pictures.
A separate group of players made the rounds at the Montreal Children’s on Monday afternoon for the annual hospital visits — the 49th consecutive year the team has done so.
Gabriel Martel, 11, obligingly provided an inventory of the gifts he received from the Canadiens, including autographed photos, a book, a colouring book and “super good chocolates.” Players signed the baseball cap they gave him, he said.
“To me it’s special,” Gionta said of the hospital visits.
“Obviously, with three young kids and we’ve spent some time ... at the Children’s Hospital before. The work that they do and everything that they are — it’s tough days when you’re there.
“Hopefully you can bring a smile to some of the kids’ faces. You range from people that are here long-term or short term.
“But if you can make them forget about some things for a little bit, it’s pretty special,” he said.
“It’s always a tough day. It makes you appreciate having healthy kids, but you feel for all the parents. You know what they’re going through. You’ve been there before,” said Gionta, whose daughter and one of his sons had brief stays at the Children’s.
“It’s something that means a lot to the people around here, too. They love the Canadiens and they love the players. So it’s nice that we’re able to find some time and spend it with them.”
Justine Yelle, 13, happened to be at the hospital for a medical appointment and didn’t know the Habs would be there.
She got to speak to Brendan Gallagher, her favourite player, and was in tears afterward. “I’m really happy,” she said, with a laugh. She plays on a girls’ hockey team and said Gallagher is her idol. “I’ve never seen a player who works as hard as him,” Justine said.
Price and Travis Moen were among the group of players at Sainte-Justine.
“You have mixed feelings,” Price said.
“Obviously there’s a lot of kids going through some difficult times in here. And, at the same time, you get to see a joyful look when you walk into the room, so being able to participate and help in a small way is very gratifying.”
Said Moen: “It’s tough to see kids in the hospital sick. And obviously I have two kids of my own and as a parent you wish you could take the place of the children. You never want to see a kid sick and in the hospital.
So it’s great for us to be able come out and try and hopefully put a smile on their face with Christmas coming and wish them well.”
Parros, who suffered his second concussion this season on Saturday in a fight against New York Islanders forward Eric Boulton, made the rounds with his teammates at the hospital. “I’m feeling good,” he said. Defenceman Davis Drewiske was also at SainteJustine in his Habs jersey. Drewiske, who underwent shoulder surgery in midOctober, said “everything is going really well so far.” He’s aiming to return in mid-February.