Isles hand out toys and holiday cheer at hospitals

Gifts were falling off the table in the play room at Cohen Children's Medical Center in New Hyde Park, but that's what happens when there's too many toys - if there is such a thing - in one place.
With an array of gifts to choose from, Johnny Boychuk led six-year-old Karina over to the table and told her she could have any toy in the pile. Boychuk has two young daughters of his own, so when Karina opted for a doll that folds up into a handbag, Boychuk showed her how to do transform the toy like a pro.

"It could be your kids in here," Boychuk said. "There are some presents that I'd give my kids, it's a good thing to do and just to see them smile, it makes you feel good."
Boychuk and the Islanders were spreading holiday cheer Monday, as they hand delivered gifts that they'd purchased during a Toys "R" Us run at the crack of dawn on Nov. 30. There were cookie monster dolls for the infants, headphones for the teenagers, hot wheels, nerf guns and toys for every age in between.

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In all, the Islanders split up and visited eight hospitals, from the Hospital for Special Surgery on the upper east side of Manhattan, all the way out to Stony Brook and West Islip.
"It's not an easy situation for a lot of these kids," captain John Tavares said. "We want to brighten up their day with a gift and to meet with them and talk to them and take their mind off their situation."
At Cohen's Casey Cizikas battled seven-year-old Kahmel Wilmot in a game of air hockey. Wilmot has spent the last month in two different hospitals as he fights off a lung infection that was the result of pneumonia. His father Kirk said getting into the game with Cizikas was the happiest he's seen his son in the last little while.

"Words can't describe it," Kirk Wilmot said as he held the gift the Isles delivered. "It's just great. For me, for him. You can tell, he's not even thinking he's in the hospital right now."
"He beat me pretty bad," Cizikas said.
Cizikas, who's expecting his first child, said that forging that connection is something that doesn't cost him anything, but can mean everything.
"It's just doing little things," Cizikas said. "Trying to create a small conversation or playing air hockey. It's just little things where their mind is being taken off of it."

Monday's hospital visits brought the Islanders holiday initiatives full circle. Jordan Eberle, who had conducted hospital visits previously with the Edmonton Oilers, got to see the ukulele he picked out at Toys "R" Us wind up in the hands of a child at Cohen's, where music therapy is a part of their hospital stay.
The Islanders left after a couple of hours, but left full tables of toys for the kids who will need them most. It's a tough day, but a rewarding one - and one the islanders will get up for every time.
"It's a tough time for them and anything that we can do to bring a smile to their faces, even if it helps a little bit, that's what we're here for," Cizikas said.