0
QUOTE
During his 15-year professional hockey career, Lindy Ruff loved everything about the job except the time it kept him away from home.
For more than half the year, it was an endless stretch of practices, games, airplanes and buses.
It's a big reason why as coach of the Buffalo Sabres, Ruff orders team functions for which players and all staff members are encouraged to bring their families. The locker room is always open to kids. He has told players to invite their fathers on road trips.
"The kids come in after the games and run around all over," goaltender Marty Biron said. "We had a Christmas skate this year, and you couldn't believe how many kids this team had. It must have been the NHL lockout year and they popped up everywhere. But it's definitely made for a fun, family atmosphere."
...
With their coach's daughter facing an unknown, the Sabres really don't know what to say. But they know what to do. The best way to support Ruff is on the ice.
"The most important thing is for him to be with his family, and if we keep winning, I think it's a lot easier for him to be away from the rink," Fitzpatrick said.
"We're not kidding anybody," said Biron, another ex-Amerk. "The No.1 priority is family, and hockey comes after that. But if we can give Lindy a chance to feel at ease and leave the rink with no worries, that's really the best thing we can do for him as players."
For more than half the year, it was an endless stretch of practices, games, airplanes and buses.
It's a big reason why as coach of the Buffalo Sabres, Ruff orders team functions for which players and all staff members are encouraged to bring their families. The locker room is always open to kids. He has told players to invite their fathers on road trips.
"The kids come in after the games and run around all over," goaltender Marty Biron said. "We had a Christmas skate this year, and you couldn't believe how many kids this team had. It must have been the NHL lockout year and they popped up everywhere. But it's definitely made for a fun, family atmosphere."
...
With their coach's daughter facing an unknown, the Sabres really don't know what to say. But they know what to do. The best way to support Ruff is on the ice.
"The most important thing is for him to be with his family, and if we keep winning, I think it's a lot easier for him to be away from the rink," Fitzpatrick said.
"We're not kidding anybody," said Biron, another ex-Amerk. "The No.1 priority is family, and hockey comes after that. But if we can give Lindy a chance to feel at ease and leave the rink with no worries, that's really the best thing we can do for him as players."
<link>
Wishing only the best outcome for Madeleine Ruff. May she recover her full health quickly.
In life, it should always be about the people first. A game is just that, a game.
