Hundreds of local kids lose a parent by the age of 18. Now, those kids have a new place to have fun and work through their grief.

The Highmark Caring Place cut the ribbon on the Erie Otters Activity Room on Tuesday. 

The room features an air hockey table and bubble hockey game, along with Otters signage and memorabilia.

Last year, the team hosted a Children's Grief Awareness game, raising money for the Caring Place.

The new room is the result of that effort.

"It's so important because when children are grieving they feel so sad, so alone, so isolated," said Kristie Nosich, Highmark Caring Place. "And what we want to remind them is that life can go on without that person and there is hope. So, having fun is one of the best things about the Caring Place." 

The Otters are making the Grief Awareness game a yearly tradition. This year's game is set for Friday, when the Otters host Saginaw.

The team will auction off jerseys and sell special T-shirts from Erie Apparel.