The NHL Legacy Projects are a series of initiatives in which the League gives back to communities.
The room was designed in partnership with Companions in Courage, a nonprofit charity that was founded by Pat LaFontaine, the NHL's vice president of hockey development and community affairs. LaFontaine, a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame, was born in the St. Louis area.
"I wear my NHL hat, but I want to take it off and put on my Companions in Courage hat and let you know how proud I am to be here in St. Louis knowing that my first skates that I wore were here in Kirkwood [Missouri]," LaFontaine said. "To see things come full circle, to be up in the room to see Spencer and Brendan and some of the kids that are here playing games and smiling, that's what it's all about. It's good to be home.
"This is a really proud day for myself and Companions in Courage. ... This is the first step around the holidays of many more things to come. When the game is over and all the excitement is over, this wonderful room will still be here as a legacy to help these kids and be a reminder of what's really important. The game is special, but what we're leaving behind is more important."
Blues captain Alex Pietrangelo and defenseman Robert Bortuzzo, as well as Hockey Hall of Famer and team executive Brett Hull and Blues chairman Tom Stillman were in attendance to open the lounge.
The room features new computers with flat screen monitors and web conferencing cameras, new Xbox 360 gaming consoles, an assortment of games and activities, craft tables with LED lighting meditative fixtures and room decor featuring Blues players. All elements of the room were donated to the hospital, a leading pediatric facility that serves youth across the U.S. and around the world.
Companions in Courage executive director Jim Johnson and St. Louis Children's Hospital's vice president and chief nursing officer Peggy Gordin, were also there.
LaFontaine said this is the 20th such room that has been built around North America, including seven with the NHL.
"We're delighted to have this opportunity," Gordin said. "I particularly want to start by acknowledging and thanking those who made re-envisioning our teen lounge a possibility. It really is going to give us an ability to serve our patients in an ever-better way. ... This is really, really an important part of our mission that you've helped us with today."
The renovated teen lounge will be used exclusively by youth inpatients at St. Louis Children's Hospital and was designed to be age-appropriate for young adults to gather and have easy access to technology, helping them to stay connected to friends and family outside of the hospital.
"It is really an honor for me personally and our entire ownership group, for the team and for the franchise to be here today and doing something in conjunction with St. Louis Children's Hospital," Stillman said. "From the beginning, the Blues' organization has recognized the importance of giving back to the community, supporting the community that supports us so well."
"It's a great thing that the League and our team have really stepped up and kind of implemented themselves into the community," Pietrangelo said. "We already do. It's obvious everybody knows how much we like to give back, but on this magnitude to pair it with something that's such a big deal for the city and organization, it's something that we're going to remember. They've done a great job in putting this thing together. It's not an easy thing to do, but for such an important year, you've got the 50th anniversary, the Winter Classic, there's a lot of things going on this year.
"This is a great thing that we can use. It's great to see they're taking advantage of it."
