Norfolk Admirals go to the hospital

NORFOLK, VA (WAVY) - On the ice they're brutal, but Norfolk Admiral's hearts do melt.

Ty Wishart, Chris Lawrence and Scott Jackson couldn't help but giggle when two-year-old Jade Grubbe stuck her tongue out at them at Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters.

The players didn't know what to expect when they walked into the playroom of CHKD's cancer unit.
The patients weren't too sure of them either.

The hockey threesome got down on the floor and pulled out some paints, and once they broke the ice, everyone got a warm fuzzy feeling.

Keana Patrick, 16, has been at the hospital alone for seven days. She is from the Eastern Shore, so her family can only visit on weekends.

"It makes you feel better than you do the other days," she said. Her story paints a familiar picture for Lawrence, who spent a lot of time in a Canadian children's hospital when he was small getting skull surgeries.

"I'm pretty pumped to be here talking to these kids, and I would've been pretty pumped if some hockey players came in when I was little," he said.

The Admirals scored big with Keana Patrick. "My second favorite sport is hockey, besides basketball," she said. The players hope hockey can claim her top spot after this weekend. All three are auctioning themselves to raise money for the hospital.

"I need some tips for a date. What should I do?," Wishart asked one of the kids who said: "Be yourself."

If the date doesn't work, Wishart said, "I've already gotten an air hockey challenge, so I'm going to do that."

The kids said the Admirals are always welcome to come back to the hospital.

The silent auction takes place during CHKD Night at Scope.

The event is this Saturday, March 13, at 7:15 p.m. as the Admirals take on the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. Special discounted fund raising tickets are available with proceeds benefiting CHKD. For more information call: 640-1212 or click on the Admirals home page.