Penguins sign 4 Make-A-Wish kids to 1-day contracts

The Pittsburgh Penguins made four transactions Wednesday morning ahead of their practice session at UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex in Cranberry.

In this case, cap space and corresponding movements to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton were not necessary.

To the sound of applause and cameras snapping, general manager Ron Hextall welcomed four youths from Make-A-Wish to the Penguins organization, “signing” them to one-day contracts with the team.

“Well, it’s official now. You’re all members of our club,” Hextall said at the signing event.

The ceremony marked the first under Hextall during his time at the helm of the Penguins front office. Former general manager Jim Rutherford had previously made similar signings of Make-A-Wish participants every year, but the in-person ceremonies had been disrupted as a result of the covid-19 pandemic.

Today the Penguins partnered with @MakeAWishPAWV to grant wishes and prove that dreams really do come true.

You're looking at some of the newest members of the Pittsburgh Penguins (for the day). pic.twitter.com/Ppm4iHGVvL

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) March 8, 2023

The four kids — Dominic Lettrich, Luke Coughlan, Logan Ferriss and Chayce Taylor — are Penguins fans from Make-A-Wish chapters in Atlantic Provinces (Canada), Southwestern Ontario, Pennsylvania/West Virginia and Canada.

They enjoyed breakfast in the locker room and hung out with players before watching practice with their families.

“It really means a lot to us to have this opportunity to be a part of such a great organization with a lot of great players,” said Taylor, 14, of Edmonton, Alberta.

Taylor, Ferriss and Coughlan, all of whom hail from Canada, count Crosby among their personal heroes.

“Being a kid close to Sid’s hometown, it’s a kid’s dream just to love the Pittsburgh Penguins,” Coughlan said. “The Olympic gold he (won in 2010) in Vancouver – that was great. He did a lot for Canada.”

That’s not to say that the pleasure is solely on the side of the kids.

“It’s fun,” Crosby said. “I get a lot of energy from being around them and I think the smiles and joy that they have, being around all of us and experieicing this … to see them be wide-eyed and so impressed by everything, it’s just something that keeps things in perspective.”

“I think we gain every bit as much fulfillment out of it as they do, just as far as offering a certain perspective,” coach Mike Sullivan added. ” … I know it was a huge thrill for our guys. They look forward to this opportunity.”

When the Penguins host the New York Islanders on Thursday, all four and their families will catch the game at PPG Paints Arena from Sidney Crosby’s charity suite.