Heartbreaking week for hockey

It's been a heavy week for hockey fans, as tragedy struck players from four teams. Fans pushed rivalries aside to unite on Twitter and other social media, offering prayers, support, sharing tears and comfort. Meanwhile, four players' families, friends and teammates struggle to make sense of the heartbreak in their midst.

Saturday, March 1, 2014 - TIM BOZON

Tim Bozon, a forward with the Kootenay ICE (WHL), was rushed to a hospital in Saskatoon, the day after helping the ICE beat the Blades 4-2 the night before. Doctors determined Tim was suffering from Neisseria Meningitis, a serious inflammation of the tissue around the brain and spine, and placed him in a coma earlier this week to help him heal. His parents flew in from Switzerland and have been constantly at his side. 

The WHL has set up a fund to help Tim and his family with expenses during his recovery process. Fans in Canada can donate at any BMO Bank of Montreal branch in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.

Fans in the U.S. can mail donations to:

Tim Bozon Fund
c/o Western Hockey League
Father David Bauer Arena
2424 University Dr. NW
Calgary, Alberta T2N 3Y9
CANADA

Anyone looking to send get well wishes to Tim can either send them to the above address, or directly to the team:

The Kootenay ICE Hockey Club
c/o Western Financial Place
#2 - 1777 - 2nd Street North
Cranbrook, BC V1C 7G9
CANADA

Monday, March 3, 2014 - MATT STAJAN

On Monday, March 3, Calgary Flames center Matt Stajan and his wife Katie welcomed their son Emerson into the world, then grieved as the newborn passed away a short time later. Matt has taken a leave of absence from the team to be with this wife, but the Calgary Sun reports, teammates and their wives have rallied around the heartbroken couple in a show of love and support. 

Fans who want to show love and support for Matt and Katie Stajan can send cards to:

Matt & Katie Stajan
c/o Calgary Flames
PO Box 1540 Stn. M.
Calgary, Alberta T2P 3B9
CANADA

Friday, March 7, 2014 - RYAN FISCHER

 17-year-old Ryan Fischer was found unresponsive in his bed on the morning of Friday, March 7. It was later determined he had died from hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (an enlarged heart). His team, the Grandville High School Bulldogs, were scheduled to play in the Michigan State semi-finals that evening. According to a story in The United State of Hockey blog, Ryan's parents, Scott and Roni, visited the team and urged the players to play that night. (They lost to Detroit Catholic 3-0 in an arena filled with emotional fans from both teams supporting Ryan and his teammates).

Ryan was laid to rest on Wednesday, March 12, following a memorial service where he was remembered as kind, passionate and dedicated to doing "what's right." He had been accepted to both the US Naval Academy and West Point (he had decided to attend West Point), and dreamed of serving his country.

Fans wanting to send condolences to Ryan's family (parents Scott and Roni, siblings Kelsea and Connor) can mail them to:

The Fischer Family
c/o Grandville High School
4700 Canal Ave. SW
Grandville, MI 49418

Monday, March 10 - RICH PEVERLEY

Six minutes into the game between the Dallas Stars and Columbus Blue Jackets, Rich Peverley skated to the Stars bench following a shift... then collapsed. Teammates quickly carried him into the tunnel as head coach Lindy Ruff screamed for a doctor - the entire drama broadcast live on TV. We later learned emergency crews treated Rich for a racing heartbeat and a stopped heart before rushing him to the hospital. 

Now, we learn Rich will miss the rest of the season as he undergoes surgery for atrial fibrillation, a condition that causes an irregular and rapid heartbeat that makes it difficult to send blood throughout the body. He missed the preseason because of heart issues, but had been given the green light to play following treatment - and worked with team doctors to monitor his heart and took medication regularly. 

A return to the ice remains unclear.

Fans wanting to send Rich encouragement and "get well" cards can mail them to:

Rich Peverley
c/o Dallas Stars
2601 Avenue of the Stars
Frisco, TX 75034

Many people have tweeted well-wishes to/about all of the players mentioned above, but sometimes, a good old "snail mail" letter or card can brighten things up even more. Or am I really old fashioned?

Former T-Birds & Tips in NHL action today

This is just a quick note to let T-Birds, Tips and other Seattle-area hockey fans know about a few former players on several NHL game rosters today (including some who are playing against each other!)  Note: All times are Pacific

Noon
Ottawa Senators (Jim O'Brien, T-Birds) vs. New York Islanders (Thomas Hickey, T-Birds)

Dallas Stars (Brenden Dillon, T-Birds) vs. St. Louis Blues (TJ Oshie, Seattle Jr. Totems)
(This game is on NBC Sports Network)

Colorado Avalance (Calvin Pickard, T-Birds <on emergency callup>) vs. Columbus Blue Jackets (Note: former Silvertip Ryan Murray is on this team, but is injured)

3:00pm
Florida Panthers (Peter Mueller, Tips) vs. Carolina Hurricanes

Former T-Birds breaking into NHL ranks

I love watching players I've seen hone their skills here in the WHL make their mark in the bigs, especially two former Seattle Thunderbirds defensemen who have taken two very different roads to the NHL.

Thomas Hickey was drafted #4 overall in 2007 by the LA Kings, then spent three years making his mark with the Kings' AHL affiliate Manchester Monarchs. Shoulder surgery held him back one season. He made the AHL All Star team another season. But after signing Thomas to a one year extension, LA placed him on waivers this season. The New York Islanders snatched him up and placed him on their roster. He hasn't had too much ice time, but Head Coach Jack Capuano seems pleased with Thomas' cool head, great vision and smarts. To cap things off, he scored his first NHL career goal, scoring the OT winner against the Montreal Canadiens on February 21. (Read about it by clicking here).

Thomas Hickey shows off his first NHL goal puck.

(Photo: New York Islanders/Getty)

A number of Isles fans/writers thought once Lubomir Visnovsky returned to the lineup, Thomas would be sent to AHL Bridgeport, but he's still in the lineup - and still getting ice time.




I've been teased because it's no secret he's my favorite Seattle Thunderbirds player. I admire his work ethic, his strong skating skills and his perseverance - showing everyone that smarts can help make up for (lack of) size. He also happens to be a heck of a nice guy, or at least, he's been extremely nice and very intelligent the several times I've interviewed him over the past several years. There are many other Thomas Hickey fans among the T-Birds crowd - and we'll continue cheering for him to succeed.

The other former d-man making his mark is Brenden Dillon, who played with the T-Birds from 2007-2011. Brenden did not get drafted, but his work ethic during this final year with Seattle helped him stand out in the d-corps, catching the eye of several NHL teams, including the Dallas Stars. A successful training camp followed and Brenden found himself honing his skills with the AHL Texas Stars in Austin. Just one year later, he's in the Dallas lineup, using his size and skill to their best advantage. Brenden scored his first NHL goal on February 1 versus the Phoenix Coyotes. He also had his first assist and a fight, giving him a Gordie Howe Hat Trick. (Interesting note: Brenden's first WHL goal at age 17 was also part of a Gordie Howe Hat Trick versus the Portland Winterhawks). Brenden chatted with me about his transition from the WHL to AHL to the NHL. You can read it by clicking here.



Brenden Dillon shows off his first NHL goal puck.

(Photo: Dallas Stars/Getty) 

 



Another former T-Bird, forward Jim O'Brien, has been quietly making his mark with the Ottawa Senators. So far this season, Jim has scored 5 goals and contributed to the Sens' somewhat solid showing so far. Click here to read more about Jim.

 

 

Jim O'Brien celebrates a recent goal.

(Photo: Ottawa Senators/Getty)

 

 



It's been great watching these guys pursue their NHL dreams. So far, so good.

(NOTE: I did not include former T-Birds Patrick Marleau (San Jose Sharks) and Brooks Laich (Washington Capitals) because they're already pretty well ensconced in the NHL, but I am well aware of these two stellar alums)
 



Monday Puckpourri: Pens net some Stars, Carey channels VINCENT Price, plus one HECK of a WHL game

So... the Penguins' lineup changes again. I found out via Twitter that the Pens have traded Alex Goligoski to Dallas for James Neal and Matt Niskanen.  I don't know much about either player, except that I think Sid got into a fight with Niskanen earlier this season.

Will this trade make a difference to the Pens, who have struggled without Sid and Geno, but still managed to win a number of games? I guess we'll just have to tune in and see. Here's the news release from the Pens' website:  http://penguins.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=553656&navid=BN|PIT|home

Lyle Richardson from Spector's Hockey wrote up a good analysis of the trade. Just click here.


Carey Price's new goalie mask has sparked a lot of chatter; not all of it good. He unveiled it yesterday for the Heritage Classic and calls it a tribute to Jacques Plante. I'm not sure what to think of it, but many say it "creeps them out." 

Okay. Maybe it IS a little creepy.


Last night, I attended my first hockey game in months, heading down to ShoWare Center in Kent for the T-Birds/Chilliwack Bruins match-up. I arrived early (2pm) to co-host the CCPT Hockey Show from ShoWare. That was an interesting experiment, lots of fun but cut short by about 45 minutes because of the music that started blaring from the speakers. The game that followed was one that I will not soon forget. It had everything, including a line brawl! I wrote up the game for the KING 5 website.
Here's the link: http://www.king5.com/sports/HockeyWHL-T-Birds-win-a-Sunday-night-shootout-at-ShoWare-Center-116597843.html

By the way, MANY THANKS to Brian Liesse for letting me use his photos. He's part of the awesome Washington Prep Sports Network, but also has his own amazing website.