Widely considered one of the more genuine and do-good individuals in hockey, Roger Neilson received an overwhelming outpouring of support after the revelation that the Philadelphia Flyers coach has bone-marrow cancer.
Given Neilson’s reputation and personal touch, that shouldn’t be a surprise. This is a man, after all, who includes a short handwritten note with all of his brochures for a summer hockey camp he runs. Neilson is remembered well in these parts, too, for his three-year stint as a Blackhawks assistant in the mid-1980s.
The 65-year-old Neilson has a rare, incurable cancer called myeloma, which claimed his 64-year-old sister, Joan, two years ago. In typical fashion, Neilson is handling news of his condition with grace and humor.
“You can be sure I’m going to try and beat it,” Neilson said. “If I can’t, in all due respect, I think heaven’s a better place than Philadelphia.”
Neilson plans to continue coaching, although chemotherapy sessions may force him occasionally to cede control to assistants Craig Ramsey and Wayne Cashman. His players, after initial shock and sadness, seem to be drawing strength from Neilson’s attitude and also have used humor as a coping mechanism.
“The first thing he told us is, `I don’t want anyone feeling sorry for me,’ ” said Flyers captain Eric Lindros. “He’s facing the biggest battle of his life, and he was cracking jokes. That’s the way he is.
“He doesn’t want us to worry. He wants the focus on hockey. And if he can teach us how to play defense, he certainly can get through this.”
In Toronto over the weekend, Neilson was visibly moved by an in-game tribute during which his face was shown on the scoreboard video screen with the message, “Roger, this cheer’s for you from all your fans in Toronto.” A standing ovation followed as players from both teams tapped the boards and ice with their sticks.
By the time the game was over, though, Neilson was back to his wise-cracking ways.
“At least in the games up in heaven you won’t have to deal with Kris King or Tie Domi,” he said.
Old school: Not only have the Hawks pulled 63-year-old Bob Pulford out of “retirement,” now the Penguins have propped up 62-year-old Herb Brooks behind the bench to replace the fired Kevin Constantine.
Boston’s Pat Burns, at 47 practically spring chicken, thinks the moves are good for the game.
“It’s good to see old soldiers back in the game,” he said. “I have a lot of respect for Bob Pulford. From what I’ve heard from a lot of players, he’s a good coach.
“I like to see when these guys come back in. Hockey’s a simple game and we tend to complicate it sometimes. We feel all those new ideas are supposed to change the face of the game, but it’s a fun game. It’s not as tactical or technical as football or basketball even.”
Look for Constantine to land on his feet as coach of the expansion Minnesota Wild. He is a Minnesota native and has experience with young teams after coaching the San Jose Sharks.
Way cool: New Jersey’s 19-year-old rookie sensation Scott Gomez joined a group of Devils who were taken out to dinner by former teammate and Hawks captain Doug Gilmour last week. Gomez, raised in Alaska and the leading candidate for the Calder Trophy, has long idolized Gilmour.
“I called my parents and said, `Hey, I had dinner with Doug Gilmour,’ ” said Gomez. “Some of the guys say I play like him. He told me just to go out there and not be intimidated by anyone. He said you have to show you belong. It was absolutely cool to hear.”
No change: Dominik Hasek, to whom the Hawks didn’t even get to say goodbye this year, is sticking to his plan to retire after this season despite missing most of it with a torn groin muscle. Hasek has been on the shelf since Oct. 29 and still has no idea when he can don his Dominator guise again.
“I haven’t changed my mind [about retirement],” Hasek said. “But like I say, I don’t want to talk about it. My focus is to get on the ice, practice and start to play the game.”
Ice chips: At the recent NHL Board of Governors meetings, the league tabled until January more discussion on 2002 Olympic participation. It’s clear owners aren’t keen on a two-week shutdown of their season again. … Quote of the week goes to the Rangers’ Theo Fleury, who is drawing increasing scrutiny for lackluster results in the fishbowl that is the New York media: “I don’t feel like a target. Man, we have [the Jets’] Keyshawn Johnson and [the Knicks’] Latrell Sprewell here. I’m downright dull next to those guys.”
