The Flyers forwards spent time with Trin and their family after the game.
"It was amazing because I got them to sign a hockey puck from the game that I have in my room right now, and some signed posters," Trin said.
Tamicka Stephens, Trin's mother, said the meeting was genuine and that she felt Laughton and van Riemsdyk had as much fun meeting Trin and the family as they did getting to spend time with two professional athletes.
"It wasn't like, 'Oh, I have to do this for press,'" she said. "Their conversation was really genuine with Trin and I and our family. ... For Trin to feel safe enough to talk to the hockey players, express interest, to me I was overjoyed."
That meeting led to Trin pushing to start playing hockey, and soon was able to join a Snider Hockey program at Laura Sims Skate House in the Cobbs Creek section of the city.
Trin already knew how to skate, but now it's about getting used to skating with a stick and handling a puck. Most important, the kids and coaches make Trin feel like they've found a sense of belonging.
"It's been super amazing since I get to know new people and practice stuff, get to know my coaches and everything," Trin said.
The special message from Laughton just added to the fun.
"Hey Trin, it's Scott Laughton with the Philadelphia Flyers," he said in the video. "Just wanted to say how nice it was to meet you in November. I heard you're out skating and learning to play hockey today and I can't wait to see a video of it. Good luck out there."
Laughton said having initiatives for the LGTBQ community, especially kids, is important for him and van Riemsdyk.
"That's what it's all about, honestly, why you do these type of nights and just this kind of initiative that James and myself have started here," Laughton said. "Just to bring new people into the game that probably wouldn't feel very welcome before. I think it's starting to change slowly and just want to be a little bit of a voice and part of that.
And Laughton said he got as much from sending the video to Trin as Trin did, if not more.
"For me, it's even cooler to see the response from them," he said. "They were going out there and skating after coming to the game and just feeling welcome. I thought it was very cool and just something that might mean a lot to them, but I think it means a lot to me and my family too. So it's pretty special."
Trin has been to two practices and is excited to keep learning. So as much fun as Trin is having, Tamicka is even more excited.
"For me, you've got a helmet on, you're all covered up, nobody really knows, it's like another kid," she said. "No one really knows so that's amazing. To me, just to be included, to even have something like this, to include children and think about children like this, to me is amazing. Because as a parent, I just want my kids to be safe."
Top photo:Trin Stephens, center, and family (l-r), uncle Jeff Buckson, mom Tamicka Stephens, brother Tristen Stephens, meet with Flyers players James van Riemsdyk and Scott Laughton in November.
