Sometimes hockey just doesn't matter.
In the case of Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Jonas Gustavsson, this weekend may have been a painful reminder of just that.
After the siren sounded to end the game in Montreal on Saturday night, a 2-0 loss, Gustavsson skated off the ice with his teammates, disappointed after a tough game against their long-time foes. Most players on the team had their fathers accompanying them on the trip, an annual tradition that GM Brian Burke brought with him from his days in Anaheim.
For one night, they got to feel like kids again, as their fathers waited for them in the hallway after the game, offering encouraging words and "you'll do better next game," like they did back in the house league days.
A bittersweet moment, but better surely a nice one for the players after a loss to the division rivals.
But for Gustavsson, his father wasn't there to tell him he played okay. No one was waiting for him with an encouraging smile on his face. There was no feeling like a kid again on this night.
Gustavsson's father passed away four years ago, just as ...
Read Full Article at Bleacher Report - NHL
Article written by Jon Neely
Toronto Maple Leafs Monster: Jonas Gustavsson Reminds Us Hockey Isn’t Everything
November 22nd, 2010 by Jon Neely Leave a reply »
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