Pats helping Morrisseau cope with family tragedy
Hockey has been an escape for teen whose dad died of heart attack this year
Koby Morrisseau is a young man of few words, but there’s conviction in his voice when he reveals how a passion for hockey became his salvation.
The soft-spoken 17-year-old had to cope with an unspeakable loss when his father Paul died of an apparent heart attack on Jan. 12.
After taking some time to deal with the initial shock, Morrisseau found solace in returning to his old routine with the Regina Pats, who’ve become a second family in this time of need.
“Hockey has been an escape for me,” says the product of Grandview, Man. “You’re just focusing in that moment on what you’re doing and getting better. I come (to the rink) every day with a smile. It makes me think about other things and just be happy.”
Despite a brave face, Morrisseau’s internal struggle is ever present as he comes to grips with a hole in his life that can’t be replaced.
All he can do is take it one day at a time.
“It’s still going to be a process, that’s for sure,” he says. “It’s great to have the team (for support). The guys are really great. They ’re helping me battle through this. They ’re like brothers to me.”
If anyone can relate to Morrisseau’s struggle, it’s Pats captain Sam Steel, whose older brother, Patrick, died in 2011 after suffering heart failure in his sleep.
Patrick, 18, was in his rookie season with the junior A Canmore Eagles.
Just 13 at the time, Steel coped with his brother’s death the only way he knew how — finding refuge in the game they both loved.
“People grieve in different ways,” he says. “I got back pretty quick. I just wanted to go out there and play. I think you hear that a lot with athletes. Everybody is different, but for myself and I think Koby, too, it’s just great to be on the ice and be out there with your teammates.”
Steel learned to deal with Patrick’s loss, but it never left him. It also became a source of inspiration every time he stepped on the ice.
“My brother is always with me,” he says. “With Koby, it’s really recent, so he’s probably struggling with it, but we’re all trying to help him through it. It’s obviously tragic what happened. He took some time (away). It’s great to have him back and I think he enjoys being here. He’s a really strong guy.”
After spending a few days at home to “be there for my family,” Morrisseau rejoined the Pats in late January and started working himself back into shape — men- tally and physically.
Following a setback with the flu, he returned to the lineup Feb. 16 for a 5-3 win over the leagueleading Moose Jaw Warriors.
Afterward, the Pats awarded Morrisseau a hard hat symbolizing the game’s unsung hero.
“We’re a family in there and all the guys were glad to have him back,” says assistant coach Brad Herauf. “We don’t want him to feel like he has to go through it on his own. We’re trying to extend as much (help) as we can, but in the end it’s going to be Koby (who gets himself through it). He’s probably doing as good as can be. Maybe hockey is an escape for him right now.”
Morrisseau is now five games into his comeback. With each outing, the fourth-line centre gets a little closer to recapturing his midseason form.
“I just keep battling and pushing through to help my team,” he says. “They’re helping me battle through this, so it’s good.”
Morrisseau’s contribution was more than symbolic when he scored a key goal last weekend in Regina’s 7-5 comeback win over the Saskatoon Blades.
One night later, he received extensive ice time and set up a thirdperiod goal that spurred another comeback effort against the Warriors, who eventually held on for a 3-2 decision.
It went in the books as a loss, but it was another triumph for Morrisseau.
“He’s going to be a special hockey player, but to us what he does on the ice comes second,” says Herauf. “We want Koby to be healthy and happy first and foremost. Whatever he gives us on the ice is an added bonus.”
I come (to the rink) every day with a smile. It makes me think about other things and just be happy.