Pressure. Every player in the National Hockey League feels it.
Whether itB次元官网网址檚 from the fans, the media, the organization or just internally, itB次元官网网址檚 always there whether youB次元官网网址檙e a 40-goal scorer or a role player just trying to stay in the lineup.
Under normal circumstances, time with family and/or friends is an escape. ItB次元官网网址檚 time when you can just get away from whatB次元官网网址檚 going on at the rink and forget about the stress.
But for DeltaB次元官网网址檚 Brendan Gallagher, now in his 12th NHL season with the Montreal Canadiens, going to the rink has become his escape.
In August of 2021, his mother Della was diagnosed with Stage 4 brain cancer (Glioblastoma) in which she was told that she might have a year to live, perhaps maybe a year-and-a-half if she was lucky.
Almost three years later, sheB次元官网网址檚 beating the odds.
B次元官网网址淩ight now, sheB次元官网网址檚 as good as can possibly be. When we first got the original diagnosis, it was rough but the amount of people that have reached out and helped usB次元官网网址he first call I made was to (Vancouver Giants owner) Ron Tiogo, who put us in contact with someone who reached out to USC for us,B次元官网网址� said Gallagher after the Canadiens lost 4-1 to the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday night at Rogers Arena.
B次元官网网址淔rom there, things got rolling. She was originally taken care of in Canada but we needed a little bit more and we got her down to USC where she got phenomenal care. SheB次元官网网址檚 in good spirits.B次元官网网址�
Brendan has always been known as a tough, gritty player who is willing to pay whatever price it takes to win. Most believed that toughness came from his father Ian. In a previous life, this agent played against Ian Gallagher in the Western Lacrosse Association and can personally vouch that the former Vancouver Burrard was probably the toughest player in the league pound-for-pound. Ian Gallagher has been involved in hockey for many years as a strength and conditioning guru and works with several NHL players in the off-season in Ladner.
But Ian isnB次元官网网址檛 the only one whoB次元官网网址檚 a fighter in the family.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 incredible how tough my mom is. When it all first happenedB次元官网网址er attitude in the hospitalB次元官网网址he was making the nurses laugh. She is where she is at right now because of her positivity. SheB次元官网网址檚 been a fighter her whole life and sheB次元官网网址檚 not done yet. SheB次元官网网址檚 going to keep kicking butt,B次元官网网址� Gallagher said proudly.
Gallagher has been dealing with his motherB次元官网网址檚 health issues for a while now but coming to the rink has allowed him to do what he loves to do and provide a brief respite from the situation.
B次元官网网址淥riginally it was kind of a shock and I wasnB次元官网网址檛 able to forget about it but IB次元官网网址檝e gotten better as sheB次元官网网址檚 gotten better and I think my time at the rink is a place where I feel comfortable. My teammates have been incredible as well. IB次元官网网址檝e been pretty fortunate that way,B次元官网网址� said Gallagher.
One of GallagherB次元官网网址檚 closest friends on the Canadiens is linemate Jake Evans, who says GallagherB次元官网网址檚 attitude has been amazing throughout the ordeal.
B次元官网网址淗e doesnB次元官网网址檛 bring it up too much because he doesnB次元官网网址檛 want the extra attention but thereB次元官网网址檚 been a few times where things were tough. I think it has to be one of the hardest things in the world to do but he comes to the rink every day with a smile on his face and works his butt off. HeB次元官网网址檚 a true inspiration battling through that and his mom is putting up an unbelievable fight as well,B次元官网网址� noted Evans.
In an attempt to raise awareness for MayB次元官网网址檚 Brain Cancer Awareness Month, GallagherB次元官网网址檚 sister Bree, a student-athlete who plays soccer at the University of Calgary and his brother Nolan, a new member of the Burnaby Fire Department, are running in the BMO Vancouver Marathon on May 5 to raise funds for the cause. The goal is to raise $15,000. As of Thursday afternoon that total sat at $13,032.
Gallagher isnB次元官网网址檛 too surprised to see Bree taking part, telling us she just completed a half-marathon in 1:45:00 but he had to poke some fun at NolanB次元官网网址檚 participation, which has him worried.
B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 know how sheB次元官网网址檚 going to do but surprisingly my brother is going to be running it with her. I donB次元官网网址檛 know. I donB次元官网网址檛 know how this is going to turn out but IB次元官网网址檒l be there watching them,B次元官网网址� chuckled Gallagher.
Gallagher was very complimentary to the care Della received in Canada but he and his family believe that there needs to be more and thatB次元官网网址檚 why they have started this initiative.
B次元官网网址淗opefully that (treatment received in the U.S.) becomes available to everyone in Canada. ThatB次元官网网址檚 the goal here. We want it to be available for everyone because we know without it our mom wouldnB次元官网网址檛 be here right now. ThatB次元官网网址檚 the initiative going forward and IB次元官网网址檓 proud of my sister and my brother,B次元官网网址� said Gallagher.
For information on how to donate, .
OVERTIME
* Vancouver got two goals from Nikita Zadorov in the first period to jump out to a 2-0 lead, The two teams exchanged goals in the second with Conor Garland scoring for Vancouver before Juraj Slafkovsky replied for Montreal. Nils Aman tallied for Vancouver in the third to finish the scoring. Vancouver goalie Casey DeSmith made 16 saves in a winning effort while MontrealB次元官网网址檚 Sam Montembeault stopped 21 of 25 shots.
* Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet has been praising his teamB次元官网网址檚 ability to get inside in the offensive zone while denying the opposition the same defensively. B次元官网网址淧laying inside is will, grit and getting thereB次元官网网址tB次元官网网址檚 just getting there. The first goal with Laff (Sam Lafferty) in front, the goalie couldnB次元官网网址檛 see it. They werenB次元官网网址檛 moving him and we scored. Those are the goals weB次元官网网址檝e got to find,B次元官网网址� stated Tocchet.
* A trio of Montreal Alouettes made an appearance at the game with the Grey Cup in tow. Receiver Tyson Philpot from Delta and defensive lineman Brock Gowanlock from Cowichan as well as receivers coach Mike Lionel from Vancouver were shown on the video board during a break with the Cup. It was ironic that they were wearing Canucks jerseys with the Habs in town.
* TSN analyst Craig Button was working the Habs TV broadcast and we asked our former colleague for his thoughts on the Canucks and their chances in the Western Conference. B次元官网网址淚 think there are six legitimate contenders for the Stanley Cup. You have the Canucks, Edmonton B次元官网网址� you can never rule out Vegas B次元官网网址� and then you have the three teams in the Central (Division). The Canucks didnB次元官网网址檛 get here by accident. TheyB次元官网网址檝e been really good. We know how good Demko is and the defence has been so good. Lindholm has to give more B次元官网网址� I think heB次元官网网址檚 going to be a key. Not just in two-way play but he has to give more on offence. TheyB次元官网网址檙e a team that plays hard and I love what Tocchet has done with them. He is trying to harden them. I always say the playoffs are about who can go the hardest the longest. Rick knows that. ThatB次元官网网址檚 what heB次元官网网址檚 trying to do with this team.B次元官网网址�
Veteran B.C. sports personality Bob B次元官网网址渢he MojB次元官网网址� Marjanovich writes twice weekly for Black Press Media.
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