Pittsburgh Penguins players make annual holiday visit to UPMC Children's Hospital

Kristina Serafini
Monday, Dec. 9, 2019 4:56 p.m. | Monday, Dec. 9, 2019 4:56 p.m.

Kristina Serafini | Tribune-Review

Aryonna Sloan, 3, of Bridgeville looks on as she has her photo taken with Pittsburgh Penguins players Matt Murray (from left), Marcus Pettersson, Zach Aston-Reese and Tristan Jarry during the team’s annual holiday visit to UPMC Children’s Hospital on Monday, Dec. 9, 2019.

Kristina Serafini | Tribune-Review

Pittsburgh Penguins forward Patric Hornqvist shows a team calendar to Kassalynn Lewis, 5, of Beaver Falls as he and other players participate in the Penguins’ annual holiday visit to UPMC Children’s Hospital on Monday, Dec. 9, 2019.

Kristina Serafini | Tribune-Review

Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Kris Letang signs a t-shirt for Sophia Gaffey, 8, of Connellsville during the team’s annual holiday visit to UPMC Children’s Hospital on Monday, Dec. 9, 2019.

Kristina Serafini | Tribune-Review

dwards, 3, of Charleroi smiles as he touches his new Pittsburgh Penguins hat given to him by players Evgeni Malkin (from left), Patric Hornqvist, Justin Schultz and Bryan Rust during the team’s annual holiday visit to UPMC Children’s Hospital on Monday, Dec. 9, 2019.

Kristina Serafini | Tribune-Review

Pittsburgh Penguins players Jake Guentzel (from left), Kris Letang and Jared McCann talk to Frankie Johns of St. Marys, Elk County while they visit Frankie’s daughter Averi, 5-weeks, during the team’s annual holiday visit to patients at UPMC Children’s Hospital on Monday, Dec. 9, 2019.

Kristina Serafini | Tribune-Review

Pittsburgh Penguins players Zach Aston-Reese (from left), Marcus Pettersson, Matt Murray and Tristan Jarry talk to a patient during the team’s annual holiday visit to UPMC Children’s Hospital on Monday, Dec. 9, 2019.

Kristina Serafini | Tribune-Review

Sophia Gaffey, 8, of Connellsville talks to Pittsburgh Penguins players including Jake Guentzel during the team’s annual holiday visit to UPMC Children’s Hospital on Monday, Dec. 9, 2019.

Kristina Serafini | Tribune-Review

Dani Carney, 2, of Mt. Lebanon, along with mother Lanne, wave goodbye to Pittsburgh Penguins players after they stop to visit her room during the team’s annual holiday visit to UPMC Children’s Hospital on Monday, Dec. 9, 2019.

The Pittsburgh Penguins made the holidays a little brighter for patients at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh on Monday.

Donning Santa caps, the players stopped by several rooms at the hospital to drop off gifts such as stuffed penguins, hats and calendars. They spent time talking, posing for photos and signing autographs for the children and their families.

The annual holiday visit has been a Penguins tradition since the 1970s.

Kristina Serafini is a TribLive photojournalist covering Southwestern Pennsylvania. She is a Pittsburgh native and Point Park graduate. Her work has been honored locally and nationally. She can be reached at kserafini@triblive.com.