John Sullivan, Vikings encourage patients at Halloween Huddle

MINNEAPOLIS — Room by room, John Sullivan and Vikings teammates brought smiles to patients at the University of Minnesota Masonic Children’s Hospital on Tuesday as part of an annual Halloween Huddle.

The tradition that the Vikings center has been in charge of hosting since 2012 took on new significance for Sullivan as newborn son, Harrison, joined the first-time father and his wife, Ariel, in brightening days of young people who are bravely facing medical challenges.

Sullivan said becoming a parent further enabled him to relate to families as he walked the hospital’s halls for the first time since his son was born in August.

“It’s more of an emotional response at this point,” Sullivan said.…