Young cancer patients were thrilled to receive the Stanley Cup when Sam Bennett, the Florida Panthers’ star forward and East Gwillimbury native, recently visited the pediatric oncology clinic at Southlake Regional Health Centre.

During a private visit by Bennett, there was much laughter and joy among the 12 child patients and their families. Bennett shared the joy of his team’s hard-fought Stanley Cup victory.

“We just finished at the hospital where I saw a great group of kids who have been through some tough times,” Bennett said in a hospital news release. “It’s pretty cool to see how excited they are to see the Stanley Cup and take a picture.”

The visit was incredibly meaningful to the young patients who attended, because for the first time in a long time, they weren’t coming to Southlake to receive cancer treatment or attend doctor’s appointments – they were just kids excited to see the Stanley Cup and a local NHL superstar.

Each child had the opportunity to meet Bennett, take a photo with the Stanley Cup, and received a signed photo and a hockey puck.

“Sam brought a lot of positive energy to the needy children in Southlake with the Stanley Cup,” said Alex Rozalowsky, one of the young patients. “Today was a good day. He put a lot of smiles on their faces.”

Each year, players and staff from the winning team get a day to view the Stanley Cup as it tours North America and Europe. During his day with the Stanley Cup, Bennett attended a public meet-and-greet at the East Gwillimbury Sports Complex, the local rink where he learned to skate and play hockey as a child before attending Southlake.

“Sam’s visit with the Stanley Cup brought great joy to young patients battling cancer,” said Andrea Fretz, child life specialist at Southlake. “Moments like this remind us of the power of community and the importance of celebrating the human spirit, especially in our 100th year. We are incredibly grateful to Sam and the Florida Panthers for making this visit possible.”