SALT LAKE CITY — Members of the Utah Mammoth hockey team spent part of their holiday week visiting patients at Intermountain Primary Children's Hospital, bringing books, crafts and smiles to kids who are spending Thanksgiving away from home.
The team's mascot, Tusky, joined players as they handed out books and helped children make slime in the team's signature colors. Patients also colored with athletes and strung friendship bracelets together.
Fourteen-year-old Phippin Tingey went straight to meeting Tusky. They played a competitive game together.
"No. 98, yeah, 98, he told me he was from Russia. And that was really cool to me because there's actually a famous Russian dish called borscht," Phippin said. "I just, I like to talk to people because, you know, when you're sick, you have to lay in bed all the time."
His mother, Emily Tingey, said visits like these make a big difference.
"So, it's nice when people come around and come talk and lift your spirits," she said.
Player Clayton Keller said giving back is part of the team's mission.
"A lot of what they're going through is, you know, more important than anything that we're going through, so, you know, any way that we can give back," he said. "New faces and try to put a smile on their faces, the best feeling."
The Utah Mammoth also visited Intermountain Primary Children's Lehi campus and plan to return to meet more patients and families.
