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?

Wednesday Puckpourri - Flames should be burning with embarassment; 17 WHL players invited to Team Canada WJC selection camp

The Canucks/Flames game just ended and all I can say is WOW. To quote my friend Shawn, who described another game the same way - the Canucks scored a touchdown, while the Flames scored a safety. A 7-2 loss is more than embarrassing. I'd say it's downright humiliating. And we all sat here watching the Flames falter and fall apart, kind of like a train wreck. Kind of? Let me amend that. The Calgary Flames WERE a train wreck in motion.

Mason Raymond scored his second career hat trick, with one goal in the first and two in the third. He also assisted on the Canucks' second goal, by Jeff Tambellini. Raymond sure had a lot of accuracy tonight, considering he fired just four shots on net. Daniel Sedin, Alex Burrows and Dan Hamhuis also scored for Vancouver. Tim Jackman and Alex Tanguay tried to keep the Flames in the fight, then the Canucks blew things wide open in the third, turning the Scotiabank Saddledome into their own personal shooting gallery.

I'm sure bigger Calgary and Vancouver fans than I will post their own, more colorful blogs about tonights fiasco game. When I see their posts, I'll link them here.

I'm excited that 17 WHL players have been asked to attend Team Canada's WJC selection camp, including Everett Silvertips d-man Ryan Murray and Seattle Thunderbirds goalie Calvin Pickard. I wrote up a brief story for the KING5.com site and listed all 39 players invited to attend. You can read it by clicking here.

Hickey, Armstrong & Love

I can honestly say that I now have something in common with former T-Bird Thomas Hickey. We both have been featured on the front page of NHL.com. The site honored 3 of my blogs with front page status. Of course, he's much more high-profile than I am, and if he continues to tear up training camp and pre-season like he did at the LA Kings' prospects camp, his stock is gonna rise even more.

Anyone who's been to a T-Birds game over the last four years has seen this talented guy bloom right before our eyes. We weren't surprised when he was selected to Team Canada for the 2007-2008 World Junior Championships in the Czech Republic. We weren't surprised when he helped Team Canada bring home their 4th consecutive gold medal. And we really weren't surprised to learn that not only had Thomas been selected to Team Canada for the 2008-2009 WJC in Ottawa, but that Coach Pat Quinn had named him Captain of this talented young team.

And even though Team Canada gave us a couple of heart attacks (who can forget that 6-5 shootout win against Russia in the semi-finals), we knew by the end of the first period in the gold medal game against Sweden that the boys in red were going to pull off their 5th straight championship. The only thing that surprised me was what happened when Captain Thomas Hickey was handed the championship cup. This usually reticent, soft-spoken guy let out a scream that I can still hear to this day. The sound was pure, unadulterated joy.

When the T-Birds fell to the Spokane Chiefs in the first round of the WHL playoffs, Seattle fans felt a deep sense of loss because they knew their captain was gone. Just a couple of days after that heartbreaking Game 5 loss, Thomas was jetting across the country to Manchester, New Hampshire, to join the Kings' AHL team, the Monarchs. And we all remember just what an impact he made right away!

So, just as fans were not surprised at how brightly their star shone all season, they're not fazed that NHL.com is sitting up and taking notice of the #4 selection in the 2007 NHL Draft. Here's a link to correspondent Eric Stephens' great story about Thomas' NHL quest. Our only question is, what took you so long?

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=451120&navid=DL|NHL|Home

Photo: Fred Trask

Our favorite pugilist... and hockey blogger Mitch Love could find himself dropping the gloves against his former team, the Houston Aeros this season. Last week, Mitch told me he's signed on with the Peoria Rivermen, the St. Louis Blues' AHL affiliate. I know that Houston fans are very disappointed. They grew to love Mitch's gigantic heart and work ethic. Oh, and we can't forget those tilts, set to Mitch's theme song, Thorogood's "Who Do You Love?" Well, time to start boning up on my knowledge of Peoria. I'm sure the team is good. I'm just not too keen on the logo guy. He kinda looks like the Gorton's fisherman.

A couple of weeks ago, Mitch and I chatted about his road along the hockey path, from the time he was a wee lad, to today. I learned some interesting things about this guy. One: he LOVES Motley Crue. Two: his dad REFUSED to let him play goalie. You can find out why by clicking on the link below:

http://blogs.king5.com/sports/2009/07/ahlwhl-behind-the-blog-oneonon.html

Photo: Scott Berg

Former Silvertip Riley Armstrong is also on the move. After San Jose/Worcester didn't exercise their option to re-sign him or trade him, Riley became a free agent and signed on with Calgary. He's understandably disappointed that the organization to which he gave five years of his hockey life let him go, but he's really excited to test out the ice in Calgary, which is garnering new energy under the tutelage of the Sutter family.

Riley chatted with me last week about the latest changes in his life and career. He's setting his sights on making the Flames lineup and playing closer to his family. But... should he end up spending part of the season with Calgary's AHL team, Silvertips fans wouldn't be disappointed at all, since the team moved from Iowa to Abbotsford, BC. Riley says it wouldn't be too bad to play a few games there, either, since he'd get to see some old friends.

You can read more of my interview with Riley by clicking on the link below.

http://blogs.king5.com/sports/2009/07/ahl-former-silvertip-riley-arm.html