Coyotes’ Oliver Ekman-Larsson visits Boys and Girls Club in Scottsdale

“I love being around kids. They’re so happy & it makes you get happy & appreciate what you do.” – @OEL_23 after his recent visit to @BGCGS pic.twitter.com/zIk2qVy3Rs

— Arizona Coyotes (@ArizonaCoyotes) February 12, 2017

Arizona Coyotes’ defenceman Oliver Ekman-Larsson surprised the children of the Boy & Girls Club of Greater Scottsdale with a recent visit to its Piper Branch.

Since being drafted by the Coyotes sixth overall in 2009, the Swedish defenseman has been an active member of the community. He frequently donates tickets in his suite at Gila River Arena to charity and is frequently available to meet fans.

“I love being around kids. They’re so happy and it makes you get happy and appreciate what you do,” Ekman-Larsson said.

The Boys & Girls Club of Greater Scottsdale is one of several branches in the greater Phoenix area. The BGCGS website says it serves 18,000 youth in the community.

“We’ve had a couple different kids ask ‘Why would he come down here and hang out with us?'” chief development officer Sam Fowler said. “The answer is simply because he cares and the Coyotes care. It’s huge because for so many of our kids, that’s not necessarily the story they hear every day.”