Alyssa Phillips was not having a good day.
Cooped up at Mass. General and facing the prospect of missing hockey and, just as important, Halloween, she was understandably grumpy.
Then, Halloween came to Alyssa. And the holiday came in hero form.
Sure, he was dressed as Sulley from “Monsters, Inc.’’ fame, but the disguise didn’t fool Alyssa. She knew instantly it was somebody whom she usually recognizes in a more familiar costume. OK, uniform.
“Right away,’’ said Alyssa.
Jeremy Swayman was among a group of Bruins visiting on this day, and he had long been Alyssa’s favorite player.
There was an instant goalie bond. Swayman, of course, mans the net for the Bruins, and Alyssa is the netminder for the Waltham Youth Hockey girls’ under-12 team.
Wherever Swayman goes, hugs are sure to follow, and he and Alyssa shared a big one.
“It was amazing. At the hospital I was pretty sad and wanted to play hockey, the thing I love,’’ Alyssa said this week, recalling the day. “But when Jeremy came in, it was way better. It brightened my day.’’
Swayman called Alyssa “his goalie partner’’ and the two chatted about life and hockey.
“He’s a super nice person and he took a bracelet off and gave it to me,’’ said Alyssa, proudly displaying the black and gold trinket. “He was super nice and an amazing person.’’
After the Bruins left, Alyssa told her mom, Joann, that getting to meet Swayman was worth spending that stretch at the hospital.
“It was one of those quotes that you can’t really prepare for, and it just hit me so deep,’’ said Swayman, when told of Alyssa’s thoughts. “And just the simplicity of happiness I think was the most meaningful thing about that.
“And obviously meeting her in person and seeing her reaction, that made me feel like it’s bigger than hockey. And to be able to meet her, talk goalie, obviously, just to see her love and support the little I could do to put a smile on her face means the world to me.’’
It was a connection that was just in its beginning stages.
Coincidentally, Alyssa’s team qualified for the annual Mini 1-on-1 tournament.
Alyssa has had some unresolved health issues that have required multiple hospital visits and admissions. Because of the unpredictability of her ailment, staying on schedule can be tricky. But Alyssa, who said she wanted to be a goalie because it’s the “person on the team that’s most relied on,’’ was always ready to go.
“When we first learned about the Mini 1-on-1, the coaches were talking about who to pick and then they picked me and some of my teammates to go,’’ Alyssa said. “But I’ve been hospitalized multiple times, but they still stuck with me to be in.’’
Joann said she appreciated the flexibility of coach Matt Whittier, and that Alyssa always powers through for her team.
“Sometimes she’ll leave the hospital during the day and want to go right to practice that night,’’ Joann said. “Sometimes I’d say to her coach, ‘Make sure she gets some rest — she was just in the hospital.’ ’’
The Waltham girls’ team powered its way through the tournament, eventually winning the title with Alyssa in net.
“It was stressful,’’ said Alyssa, “but fun at the same time.’’
One of the perks of winning the tournament is getting to watch a Bruins game from a suite at TD Garden. So, Alyssa and her teammates piled in for Monday night’s game.
Following the game, the group made their way down to ice level where Alyssa had a reunion with Swayman.
After another goalie hug, Swayman signed autographs and posed for pictures.
“Amazing,’’ said Alyssa. “It was a great experience, and I’m so grateful I got to do it.’’
Swayman was impressed that Alyssa wanted to be the person that her team relied on most.
“It just goes to show what kind of character that she has and the upbringing that she’s had. And obviously she’s fighting some tough battles right now. And I have no doubt in my mind that she’s going to come out on top and learn from it and just be such an incredible success story that we can all follow and really get behind,’’ said Swayman.
“And she doesn’t know it, but she’s a huge inspiration for me. And obviously anyone that knows her story, she will continue to be, and I think she’s the right person for the job. And that’s a huge testament to the human being that she is. And I couldn’t be happier to have her in my life.’’
Jim McBride can be reached at james.mcbride@globe.com. Follow him @globejimmcbride.