For most kids, the holiday season means time with family, colorful lights and lots and lots of presents and gifts. However, for some the holiday season is just like every other day and those days consist of doctors’ visits, hospital rooms and medicine. The New York Islanders, along with their wives and girlfriends, participate in the annual Hockey With A Heart by buying and delivering gifts for children in local hospitals in order to try and help bring a little holiday cheer to those in need.
It’s been an annual tradition for as long as many fans can remember. Once a year, the Islanders, along with their girlfriends and wives, take a trip early in the morning to Toys R Us to shop for gifts for children in need.
With Starbucks in hand, the team descends upon the toy filled store to stock up on dolls, board games and more. They take their time and make sure to pick out the absolute perfect toys! In recent years with the closing of Toys R Us, the wives and girlfriends have taken it upon themselves to visit Target picking up a larger variety of gifts and enjoying the cause behind it.
“It’s so important for the guys and the organization to do something like this,” said Cassie Clutterbuck, wife of Cal Clutterbuck. “Being in the hospital over the holidays there’s probably nothing worse, so getting to bring smile and happiness to those kids is the best you can do at this time of year.”

After their predawn shopping spree, the wives hand the event over to the players, who, a couple weeks later, hand-deliver the toys to a local children’s’ hospital.
On Dec. 16, the Islanders team geared up and made their way to six different hospitals along Long Island to hand deliver the toys. Hospitals included Cohen Children’s Medical Center and Stony Brook University Hospital. Not only does the team deliver the toys, they take pictures, sign autographs and play with the children.
“To me it’s the best event of the year,” said Islanders forward Matt Martin. “I think all the guys really enjoy it, putting a smile on kids’ faces who are going through a tough time.”
Not only do the Islanders and the children have a great time with each other, but the parents enjoy the event as well. It’s not easy for parents seeing their children go through such hard times; however, when the Islanders come to visit parents are able to see a smile on their child’s face making them happy as well.
“It’s definitely inspirational,” said mother Susan Stobierski. “For [my son] to grow up knowing that special people came to see him when he was in a special place makes it more meaningful.”
Seeing the smile on faces of the children after hand delivering toys to them to help spread Christmas cheer is just one of the great parts about the annual New York Islanders children’s hospitals visit.
When fans see the pictures posted on Instagram and Facebook and hear about how much the players and the children alike enjoy this Hockey With A Heart event, fans can only hope this tradition continues for many more years.

David Lazar