The Winnipeg Jets got their usual welcome from adoring fans Thursday, even though they were the visiting team at the Rehabilitation Centre for Children.
The waiting room at the centre was packed with more than 35 youngsters, all decked out in blue and white jerseys, anxiously waiting to meet eight of their heroes.
Each one of the kids has a different story marked with challenges; some have prosthetic limbs, others are confined to wheelchairs or have trouble speaking. Many rely heavily on their guardians to help them accomplish everyday tasks.
Those challenges seemed to vanish when the door opened and the Jets walked in.