Mikael Granlund

Wild's Parise, Twins' Mauer take the ice with pediatric cancer patients

Published Jan. 18, 2016 11:37 a.m. ET

foxsports

Although his team has struggled to find the net recently, Zach Parise and members of the Minnesota Wild scored points during a recent scrimmage with current or former patients of the Children's Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota.

Joined by Minnesota Twins star Joe Mauer and former Wild defenseman Keith Ballard, Parise and several of his current teammates did their best to keep up with the children at Richfield Ice Arena recently. Mauer gave pointers from afar before Parise saw his baseball buddy take the ice.

Zach Parise is hosting a skating event for @childrensmn patients, and it's as cute as you'd expect. #mnwild pic.twitter.com/le8l5THbhg
— Minnesota Wild (@mnwild) January 14, 2016

Via Minneapolis Star Tribune:

"I think (Mauer) was a little hesitant to get out there for the first shift. But he was fine."

Parise and his wife, Alisha, were able to take the kids through all facets of the game of hockey, ranging from simple skating to a scrimmage during the hour-long session.

#ICYMI: Joe Mauer joined @mnwild's Zach Parise last night for a skating party with @childrensmn! #NiceLid pic.twitter.com/vsvjPEXWCK
— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) January 14, 2016

Defensemen Ryan Suter, Jared Spurgeon, Marco Scandella and Matt Dumba joined forwards Charlie Coyle, Jason Zucker, Jarret Stoll, Erik Haula, Chris Porter and Mikael Granlund as well as goaltenders Niklas Backstrom and Darcy Kuemper in helping put smiles on the kids' faces.

Zach Parise, the @mnwild and @twins pal Joe Mauer played hockey and ate pizza with patients in Richfield! #kidsfirst pic.twitter.com/uN6W5vkMop
— Children's Minnesota (@childrensmn) January 14, 2016