Winnipeg Jets bring holiday cheer to young hockey fans at SSCY Centre
Posted December 11, 2024 6:27 pm.
Last Updated December 11, 2024 8:59 pm.
It was an exciting day for kids at the Specialized Services for Children and Youth (SSCY) Centre on Wednesday, as members of the Winnipeg Jets stopped by to spread some holiday cheer.
“I was so excited I’ve never seen a Jets hockey player in my whole entire life and it’s just so amazing to see one in my real life to get my first ever autograph,” said one of the kids in attendance.
“They’re probably my favourite hockey team,” said another.
About 30 children receiving services from the Children’s Rehabilitation Foundation had the chance to meet some of their hometown heroes, as nine players from the NHL club were at the SSCY Centre for a seasonal visit, and there was no shortage of stoked kids.
“I’m so excited to see Mark Scheifele,” said one of the excited hockey fans.
The kids weren’t the only ones who were excited, as the professional athletes say they were happy to make a difference in the lives of these children.
“What they have to go through and what they have to deal with really puts things in perspective for us,” said the Winnipeg Jets captain Adam Lowry. “But their joy for life, even with the hardships they’ve been dealt, it’s awesome to bring them some smiles and interact with them.”
The Children’s Rehabilitation Foundation supports children and youth with a range of physical and cognitive disabilities and executive director Jane Kidd-Hantscher says the NHL club’s annual visit is one the children appreciate greatly.
“This is just one of those days we look forward to because for a lot of these kids obviously they would never get this opportunity. We also sometimes gift them going to Jets games, so it’s high on the list too, and it’s just so special,” she said.
And when it comes to taking some time off the ice to meet their young fans, some of the biggest names in the game in Winnipeg say it’s time they enjoy.
“It’s obviously a pretty special moment,” said Jets Centre, Mark Scheifele. “It’s a moment that we all look forward to each year, to do the hospital visits, to see kids smiling and make their day, sometimes I think it means more to us than it does to them.”
The Winnipeg Jets are currently No. 2 in the NHL.
