There’s a unique relationship between pro athletes and kids. When a youngster meets one of his or her sporting heroes there’s an almost indescribable adrenaline rush. When the visit becomes more personal than a handshake or an autograph, the memory becomes indelible.

When the Toronto Argonauts visited Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital on Monday there was something on display that let one know how important this visit was to all involved.

Teeth. Lots and lots of teeth. The gymnasium was bursting with smiles. The kids were beaming, excited to interact with their guests. The parents were smiling, watching their children get a respite from the grind of their daily rehabilitation. The players were loving the interaction with their new friends as much as the kids were happy to be hosting them.

In a season where the won-loss record isn’t where anyone would like it to be, this day was greatly appreciated by everyone in the room.

“There are a lot of Argos fans in our building,” said Sandra Hawken, President and CEO of the Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Foundation. “It means so much that the entire team would choose to come and spend the morning with the kids, many of whom are here for many months as inpatients. To have their heroes come and visit them and to let them know that they have their back and they can see them as cool kids and not kids with disabilities means the world. It’s better than Christmas and we couldn’t be more grateful or excited.”

Hospital visits by pro sports teams aren’t unusual. What made this one different from the Argos perspective is that the entire team showed up. In the past 15-20 players may have visited a hospital, but this time the trip included every player on the roster or on the practice squad, whether it be a ten-year veteran or a player signed last week. Marc Trestman and Jim Popp were there. Aside from the assistant coaches who were back at BMO Field preparing for this week’s game in Montreal, everyone else made the trip to the facility, located just north of Bayview and Eglinton.

According to Jason Colero, the Argos Director of Education and Community Programs, the Argos have done road trips before, but not like this.

“I’ve been here since 1985,” said the Argos second-longest tenured employee, “We’ve never brought a whole team to a hospital visit, all 70-some guys. It’s amazing because they get to be the team they are on the field with the kids. It’s our team with their team, it’s really neat.”

The team met some of the kids in the front lobby of the facility before some headed to specific wards, while the majority headed to the gym. When they arrived it became a giant party.

Rookie linebacker Mathieu Loiselle was a hit by doing magic tricks. At one point he sat in a corner with a young girl and blew her away with some incredible card tricks. The look of astonishment on her face was eventually replaced by – you guessed it – a giant smile.

Matt Loiselle mind freak over here. pic.twitter.com/woNH0Rhe6A

— Toronto Argonauts (@TorontoArgos) October 22, 2018

But from a players’ perspective, this day belonged to injured linebacker Terrance Plummer. If he wasn’t flossing faster than Backpack Kid, he was involved in a game of catch with one youngster, confined to a wheelchair, but for a few minutes he became Ricky Ray. Plummer would toss the mini football to the young man, who would fling it back. Plummer would catch the ball, toss it back to his newfound quarterback and take a step back. The next throw would be made, and when Plummer made the catch, the reaction of the QB – wearing perhaps the biggest smile of the day and almost jumping out of his chair in sheer excitement – would melt even the hardest of hearts.

In that room, at that moment, it was the greatest sporting event on the planet.

Plummer, a second-year Argo from the Jacksonville, Florida area, got as much from being on the receiving end of the passes as his young QB did from throwing them.

“When I see those kids deal with what they have to deal with, they just want to live their life,” he told Argonauts.ca. “I see the kids and how they live their life, and I see how I’m able to live my life, and I think about all the times I complain, literally complain about how my legs hurt, and these kids are going through debilitating injuries.”

🏈🏈🏈 @KnightBred_41 pic.twitter.com/NlckHvcgfj

— Toronto Argonauts (@TorontoArgos) October 22, 2018

As he continued talking about his experience, it was obvious that the day had as much of an impact on him as it did on the many kids he came in contact with.

“They’re always going to face obstacles,” he continued, “But they came in here with a smile on their face just to see me today. I’m nobody special, I’m just a person who plays football for the Toronto Argonauts, but for him (his quarterback), he’ll forever remember that. Because I was able to give him that, deep down in my heart, that’s what it’s about.”

Sandra Hawken said there are a lot of Argos fans at Holland Bloorview. On Monday, the roles were reversed. The players became the fans and they wouldn’t have had it any other way.