The Calgary Wild FC bounced back from a Saturday night loss in a humbling and unexpected way Monday morning.
Members of the Calgary Wild FC stopped by the Alberta Children’s Hospital on Monday morning to teach and play with kids from Dr. Gordon Townsend Schools’ Campfire program.
Brooklynn Denhartog, a patient at the hospital and member of the program, said that having the team there was a fun change from regular activities.
“I used to play soccer when I was a little girl, and I haven’t really played soccer since,” she said.
“It feels good to play with a bunch of professionals.”
Throughout the morning, players and kids were broken up into groups who then practiced rallying with a soccer ball and shooting on outdoor nets.
After everyone was warmed up, a friendly game of kids versus professionals broke out on the pitch.
Denhartog said that Calgary’s pros were kind, friendly, and reassuring.
“I couldn’t get a goal, and they were like, ‘It’s OK, just do it again. Just do it again,’ they just kept giving me confidence,” she said.
“I don’t know what I expected, but then they showed up, and I was really excited. I was nervous at first to say hi and say my name to everybody, but then I got used to it.”
Just as important as playing soccer and meeting people was being outside for an extended period of time.
“It really exposes us to being outside and playing soccer outside, it’s funner than in a gym. It’s better in a field, it makes more sense,” Denhartog said.
“Exposure to nature makes everybody feel better.”
Children’s Hospital has a personal connection to Wild defender
For Grace Stordy, a defender with the Calgary Wild FC, the visit to the Children’s Hospital was more than a feel-good moment.
“I spent nine years, give or take, of my life here. I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when I got here, so I spent a lot of time here. All the nurses, doctors here were amazing,” she said.
“It’s really cool for me to be back. I haven’t actually been back since and obviously, it’s a hard thing, but driving in here, you’re reminded of it all.”
Stordy said she was excited to have her teammates at the facility, not only to see what it meant to her, but continues to mean to so many.
“I couldn’t imagine my life without it, and I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for this facility and all the people here,” she said.
“Being back just makes me feel even more grateful that I can be a story, if I can be someone for little kids to look up to to know that things are going to be okay and things will work out, then that’s really special.”
Being winless through 10 matches played, including a 4-2 loss to the Vancouver Rise FC on Saturday, Stordy said that experiences like the hospital visit can keep players engaged and motivated during a long, tough season.
“It’s nice to look at the greater picture,” she said.
“Our season is off to a little bit of a rough start, but coming out here this morning, even before a practice, it’s just nice to clear the mind and just remind ourselves that this is why we do it.”
Kaitlyn Mainville, a Recreation Therapist with the hospital, said that a big part of recreation therapy is inclusion, where kids can be kids and have fun.
“For them, being able to socialize and hang out with the Wild FC, getting to practice their own soccer skills, especially with FIFA going on, it’s just awesome that they’re able to be a part of something out in their community,” she said.
Mainville said that, especially for the young girls in the program, having female professional athletes visit is a real treat.
“We have so many female patients and it’s just so important to show them that you can excel in sport,” she said.
After a tough battle with the kids, the Calgary Wild FC are set to return to professional soccer this Friday, when they host the Montreal Roses FC at McMahon Stadium.
