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Connor McDavid signs an autograph for six-year-old Makayla during a visit to Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital in Edmonton on Dec. 8.JASON FRANSON/The Globe and Mail

A hockey star on rehab, Connor McDavid visited the hospital on Tuesday, but not for himself.

In what has become a December tradition for the Edmonton Oilers, the 18-year-old – recovering from surgery to repair his collarbone – joined some teammates at a facility for patients with severe injuries and ailments. At the same time, other Oilers players fanned out and dropped in on the unfortunate and the infirm at other health-care institutions across the city.

In the pediatric unit at the Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital, snowflakes were painted on the windows and snowmen fashioned from paper plates floated from the ceiling.

Wearing a Santa's cap and his No. 97 jersey, McDavid chatted with patients in their rooms, posed for pictures and signed autographs at a table beside Luke Gazdic and Cam Talbot.

"Hi sweetie, how are you?" Gazdic, a hulking tough guy, asked a shy little girl.

Anders Nilsson, a 6-foot-5 goalie with a sweet disposition, pushed around a boy in a wheelchair. Standing at the front of a recreation lounge, Jordan Eberle and Nail Yakupov passed out presents.

On Monday, a rare day off, Eberle and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins went on a shopping spree, first to Toys 'R' Us, then to a Chapters bookstore. They came back with dozens of toys, books and CDs, all paid for by donations from players.

"It's something I have done every year I've been in the league," Eberle, who is 25 and in his sixth NHL season, said. "I hope it helps the kids forget, at least for a few minutes, what they are going through."

The Glenrose has patients with brain injuries, burns, strokes and amputations. It's a healing place and a nurturing place, but a tough place for everyone – especially at this time of year.

Excited kids waited patiently in long lines for a signature or photograph with players. Some wore Oilers sweaters, some carried little wooden hockey sticks they had crafted and painted themselves as part of a rehab exercise at the hospital.

Staff members gathered around, and patients from other floors came, too.

Sitting in his wheelchair, Doug Elke chatted with McDavid and handed over an Oilers jersey for him to sign. A long-time season-ticket-holder, Elke, 61, had his left leg amputated at the knee as a result of an infection on Oct. 14.

"The decision I was faced with was for them to take the leg or to not live," he said.

Last winter, Elke slipped on a patch of ice and separated his left shoulder. He said he sympathizes with McDavid, who is expected to be sidelined at least another month.

"That was a big lift meeting him," Elke said.

Earlier, Eberle had stopped in at his room.

"That meant a lot to me," he said. "He was my mom's favourite player, and she just passed away last year."

One by one, children approached Eberle and Yakupov, behind whom rested a treasure trove of presents: an air hockey table, board games, Lego. A few feet away, a tiny girl wearing pink tights and braids sat clutching her gift – a Paw Patrol microphone and amplifier.

After a little more than an hour, a group photo was taken and the players headed out into the chilly air.

When he was playing for the Erie Otters, McDavid made similar hospital visits around the holidays.

"I just like seeing the kids' excitement," he said. "It gets me excited as well. You could see the guys had a lot of fun."

Back upstairs, patients returned to their routine. There was a gaily decorated Christmas tree in one corner, beside it a piano with a fire truck sitting on top, and above it a picture of Winnie the Pooh hung on the wall.

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