Article content

The Maple Leafs conducted their annual team visit to the Hospital for Sick Children on Monday afternoon, an outing that they are more than happy to make.

“This day is always circled on the calendar pretty early on when you find out you’re going to do it,” defencemanMorgan Rielly said. “It’s a good chance to spend a day around some kids who aren’t having the best health at the moment. Going there and being a part of their day is fun. It’s a good thing that we do.”

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Visit to Sick Kids a highlight for the Leafs Back to video

For coach Mike Babcock and the players, giving back to the community, especially when it involves children who face daily health challenges, is paramount.

“I think it’s important when you are blessed to play in the National Hockey League and you get a little notoriety, and then you have a chance to make other people’s lives better, I think you should,” Babcock said.

“It’s a great day for our players, a great day for the staff there. The staff there … it’s a place you should go see one time and just see the magic that happens. It’s an absolute magical place with magical people and it makes you feel great to go there.”