Sidney Crosby was one of the first members of the Penguins to make a call on ThursdayGETTY IMAGES
Penguins players and staff this week, including GM Jim Rutherford and coach Mike Sullivan, "began making personal phone calls to select season ticket holders and corporate sponsors" to reassure them amid the coronavirus pandemic, according to Mike Defabo of the PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE. Starting Wednesday, each individual was dialing "about 15 to 20 of the fans ... with the goal of reaching around 400 to 500 people." Penguins VP/Communications Tom McMillan said that the goal was to "brighten some spirits and stay in contact with the fans" (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 4/24). NHL.com's Sam Kasan noted every Penguins player and coach "will be taking part in calls to check in on the team's biggest supporters." Members of the Penguins ticketing staff have been "calling season ticket holders since the NHL initiated its pause, placing over 4,000 calls in total." Penguins VP/Ticket Sales Chad Slencak said, "We aren't calling to do a sale or have business conversations, basically we're asking if they're OK or need anything. We're just letting them know that we are here Monday through Friday, 8:30 to 5 p.m. operating as normal even though we're working from home" (NHL.com, 4/23).
