Hockey marvels at strength of Anderson
Shutout after cancer-stricken wife tells him to rejoin team a special moment for all
When Ottawa Senators goalie Craig Anderson began crying after being named No. 1 star of a 2-0 win against the Edmonton Oilers, it was a reminder that Hockey Fights Cancer is more than a slogan in the NHL.
Anderson’s wife, Nicholle, was recently diagnosed with cancer, and he took a leave of absence to be with her while they waited for more information about her diagnosis. But she told him to suit up Sunday night because Senators backup goalie Andrew Hammond was injured.
Still coping with emotions of the week, Anderson posted a 37-save shutout against the first-place Oilers.
When dealing with cancer, a person needs to be surrounded by family. Anderson was Sunday night. Everyone in the hockey world was his family. The Senators played an inspired game and every Ottawa player embraced the teary Anderson after the game. Hugs were held longer than usual.
When Anderson was celebrated as the first star, Oilers goalie Cam Talbot, the second star, stayed near the bench to applaud Anderson.
“I can’t imagine what was going through his mind,” Talbot told the media afterward. “I don’t know if I would be able to do what he did right now. We send our thoughts and prayers to him and his family.”
The Oilers coaching staff wore Hockey Fights Cancer ties during the game.
Broadcaster Chris Cuthbert said on Twitter that he had never had the “privilege” of calling a game as emotional as Anderson’s shutout.
Senators coach Guy Boucher became emotional in the postgame press conference as he praised Anderson’s performance.
“We love hockey,” Boucher said. “It’s a great game. But there are things that are bigger. There are a lot of people who showed that tonight.”
Forward Bobby Ryan said he had never seen a winning locker room as quiet as the Senators’.
The hockey world has never glossed over the fight against cancer. Hockey Fights Cancer is the NHL’s fight. The sport has a history with the disease. Pittsburgh Penguins owner Mario Lemieux is a cancer survivor, as is Penguins forward Phil Kessel, a former Maple Leaf. Bryan Murray, who stepped down this season as Senators general manager, is battling cancer. Former Montreal Canadiens captain Saku Koivu beat cancer in the prime of his career. The list of NHL cancer stories is longer than we want it to be.
NHL players are known for their willingness to do what they can to help those fighting against the dreaded disease. Much of what they do goes unreported.
But Sunday we all witnessed the public display of what happens when athletes pull together in the fight against cancer. What we witnessed was the beautiful side of sports. What we saw was camaraderie, the sense of family that athletes acquire when they play for a team. That win wasn’t about the Senators. It was about Craig and Nicholle.
Ottawa owner Eugene Melnyk sent this Twitter message to Anderson: “Tonight was about more than hockey. It was about finding strength from teammates and your Sens family. #StayStrongNicholle”
Hemsky hip-checked: Dallas Stars forward Ales Hemsky will miss five to six months after surgery for a hip injury that general manager Jim Nill said was sustained during the World Cup of Hockey.
Nill said the surgery was performed Monday. Hemsky, who was on injured reserve early in the season with what was called a groin injury, played one game this season against Columbus, recording one shot in 16 minutes. He played for the Czech Republic in the World Cup.
The Stars, who had the best record in the Western Conference last season, have dealt with a series of injuries so far this season.
Forward Patrick Sharp has been on injured reserve since Oct. 21 with concussion-like symptoms, and Cody Eakin has missed the regular season with a knee injury. Jamie Benn has just one goal in five games while dealing with an unspecified ailment.