Brooks Laich and Mike Green Hand Out Blankets at Children's Hospital

Brooks Laich and Mike Green with Antonio Morgan, 6, and his family.

Capitals defenseman Mike Green and center Brooks Laich visited Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 3. Green and Laich visited with inpatients and outpatients in the Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders. The Caps players handed out fleece Hockey Fights Cancer blankets that were provided by the league to NHL teams for their hospital visits. Green and Laich also signed autographs and took pictures with the patients.

“Coming here today was inspiring,” said Green. “These visits put a lot in perspective and I admire the courage and strength these kids have.”

Laich added, “I love being able to bring even a little joy to the kids, it really is one of the perks of my job.”

The Capitals saw many new faces today, but were also able to reconnect with a familiar one. The players were chased down in the hallway by Antonio Morgan and his mother, who had met players during the team’s annual visit and Courage Caps launch held at the hospital in October. Antonio was proud to report that since he first met the Caps he has since been to seven Caps game, sat in the owner’s box with Ted Leonsis and visited the team’s locker room where he got a ‘real’ puck straight from the freezer.

Brooks Laich and Mike Green with Trayonna St. John, 4.

“We are very lucky to have the Washington Capitals as our friends,” said Grace Easby-Smith, coordinator of events and promotions for the Children’s Hospital Foundation. “The generosity of the players, especially mid season, is truly inspiring. The player visits are something that the kids look forward to every year. It gives them the opportunity to forget about the treatment that they are receiving and to focus on something fun and exciting. It was fantastic to see the patients’ smiles as Mike and Brooks walked in their rooms today, leaving them with a positive and lasting impression.”

The Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders provides innovative, compassionate and family-centered care for children suffering from diseases such as cancer, leukemia, sickle cell or hemophilia. The clinical care addresses a full range of child and family needs: treatment, emotional and spiritual support, home care, education, and the long-term consequences of these diseases as children grow up. The Center’s reputation for excellence attracted patients from around the world. More than 900 children and their families received care at the Center last year, and the numbers seeking treatment continue to grow.