20150311.03 NY Islanders Visit Pediatrics

NY Islanders Visit Pediatrics After Crushing Crosstown Defeat

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Patients at Stony Brook Children’s Hospital were happy to meet players from the NY Islanders. (Left to right) Matt Donovan, Alexia Temple, Daniel Pinero, Eric Boulton, Noah Nolan and Brian Strait. Photo courtesy of SBU Media Relations

By Nick Kalantzopoulos
Contributing Writer

Following a nail-biting loss to the New York Rangers last Tuesday night, several New York Islander players visited Stony Brook Children’s Hospital to cheer up some of their youngest fans.

Forward Eric Boulton, defensemen Matt Donovan and defenseman Brian Strait visited the hospital on Wednesday, March 11, putting some smiles on the faces of patients and their relatives. The players visited over 40 children, along with family members. Players also gave away team apparel, signed autographs and took pictures with their wide-eyed fans.

With help from the New York Islander organization, the Child Life Program at Stony Brook Children’s Hospital organized the visit, which took place the day after the final regular-season showdown between the Islanders and the New York Rangers in the famed Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. To help celebrate Child Life Awareness Month, the program has been sponsoring daily activities and visits to highlight some of the remarkable work done by their Child Life specialists. Activities include games, arts and crafts, as well as specialized birthday and holiday parties. The Islanders partnered with Child Life to aid the continuing sponsorship of such recreational activities to meet the unique emotional and developmental needs of hospitalized children.

Stony Brook Children’s Hospital is currently Suffolk County’s only children’s hospital. More than 8,000 children and young adults are discharged every year. With more than 160 pediatric specialists in over 30 specialties, Stony Brook Children’s Hospital is the only hospital with a Level 4 Regional Perinatal Center and a Level 3 Neonatal Intensive Intensive Care Unit in all of Suffolk County.

After a day of smiles, laughs and many questions from their youthful fan base, the Islander stars went on to join the rest of their team before their loss, 1-2, on Friday against the Ottawa Senators.