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TORONTO -- The hockey world was left reeling once again yesterday with the news of former NHL player Wade Belaks death. Derrick Coleman Elite Jersey . Belak was found in a Toronto hotel room with police saying only that his death non-supspicious and that foul play is not suspected. He is the third NHL tough guy to be found dead in a span of less than four of months. His death closely followed those of Winnipeg Jets forward Rick Rypien and New York Rangers forward Derek Boogaard. Belak leaves behind wife Jennifer and two daughters Andie and Alex. The family will hold a private funeral service in Nashville on Sunday. "Wade was a big man with an even bigger heart," said Jennifer Belak in a statement. "He was a deeply devoted father and husband, a loyal friend and a well respected athlete. "This loss leaves a huge hole in our lives and, as we move forward, we ask that everyone remember Wades infectious sense of humour, his caring spirit and the joy he brought to his friends, family and fans." Belak, a Saskatoon native had recently retired from the NHL after playing 14 seasons for five different teams. He was a fan favourite during stops in Nashville, Florida, Toronto, Calgary and Colorado. He registered eight goals and 25 assists in 549 career games while amassing 1,263 penalty minutes. Belak was in Toronto to appear as a contestant on the CBCs "Battle of the Blades" and was scheduled to work on game broadcasts for the Nashville Predators this coming season. The news of his death sent shockwaves throughout the hockey community. "I went numb, I was in total shock and disblief," sais Lorne Molleken, Belaks head coach while he was with the Saskatoon Blades in the WHL. "He was a man that had a big heart tremendous character and you know its just tough to take." Belak was universally liked and described by those who knew him as a fun-loving guy with a positive who always lit up the room. "He was one of the best," said Cody Fransson, Belaks teammate for two years in Nashville. "He was a guy you look forward to seeing everyday at the rink and he made everybody around him happier." "He just had such an upbeat attitude and he was always the guy that lightened a situation." said Cory Sarich, a former teammate of Belaks with the Blades who now plays for the Calgary Flames. "I was really shocked yesterday and its really sad knowing the family he leaves behind." Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman Luke Schenn, a fellow Saskatoon native some 13 years Belaks junior, had a cottage next to Belaks growing up. He recalled how he and his younger brother Brayden, now of the Philadelphia Flyers, looked up to Belak as kids. "We were little kids, 10-12 years old and he had a street hockey net in his driveway and would invite us over to come shoot with him." Schenn said. "This was before we were even hockey players, we were just little kids looking up to an NHL guy. "He was the nicest guy." K.J. Wright Elite Jersey . The Maple Leafs are three points behind Columbus for the last playoff spot in the East with only three games left on their schedule. You can listen to the game live on TSN 1050 starting at 7:30pm et/4:30 pm pt. Richard Sherman Jersey . "There are a lot of kids out there in my situation, probably far worse situations," he said in a phone interview with The Associated Press.ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Higher-seeded teams with the lead in a best-of-seven series over the history of the NHL playoffs have had plenty of trouble putting the opponent away. Sometimes the brink of elimination has been what truly gets a team going. Consider the Chicago Blackhawks, though, when their foe is down. An ability to swoop down and delivering the finishing victory has become a clear trait of this team since coach Joel Quenneville took over and stars Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews arrived. "The bigger the setting, the bigger the stage, they seem to rise to that challenge," Quenneville said. Since 2009, the first post-season appearance for Kane and Toews, the Blackhawks have not lost in any of the seven playoff series theyve been in that were tied after four games. Thats a 13-0 record in Games 5 and 6 of such matchups that were even at two each, including the Stanley Cup finals in 2010 against Philadelphia and 2013 against Boston. Theyll test that perfect mark once more on Tuesday in Game 6 against the Minnesota Wild, who fell behind 3-2 in this Western Conference semifinal series after losing 2-1 in Chicago on Sunday. "To do exactly whatever it takes ... is one of the hardest things in any series, to clinch it," said Blackhawks left wing Bryan Bickell, whos tied for the NHL lead with six goals this year in the playoffs. "But I feel we have the confidence and the poise and the relaxation that we dont get ahead of ourselves and just play shift by shift." During the Kane-Toews era -- which includes left wing Patrick Sharp and core defencemen Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook, Niklas Hjalmarsson -- the Blackhawks are 11-2 in games played with a chance to win a series. Theyre 5-1 on the road, with the only losses in those clinching situations against Vancouver, in 2011 in Game 7 of the first round and in 2010 in Game 5 of the second round. They rebounded in 2010 to win Game 6 and advance. The Wild are bound to be one of the toughest outs these Blackhawks have encountered. Theyre 5-0 at Xcel Energy Center since the playoffs began, ouutscoring their opponents 16-5 and allowing an average of 19. Russell Wilson Womens Jersey. 2 shots on goal per game. The Blackhawks were stifled in Games 3 and 4, unable to amount any kind of offensive rhythm. "The building has been electric. The fans have been unbelievable. Im sure theyre having a good time with the late starts," Wild defenceman Ryan Suter said, smiling. "Everything, its been a lot of fun for us. Were driving to the rink and you see the excitement outside the rink, and we just build off that." The Wild won two elimination games in the last round against Colorado and, to factor in franchise history, are 9-5 all time in those situations. Theyre trying to become the first NHL team to force consecutive Game 7s in the same post-season without holding a series lead since the New York Islanders in 1987. "Just get ready for Game 6 here. Thats our Game 7 right now," captain Mikko Koivu said. Quenneville declared injured centre Andrew Shaw out again for Game 6. Wild coach Mike Yeo said left wing Matt Moulson and defenceman Keith Ballard were skating on Monday but declined to speculate on their status. Suter took a hard spill in Game 3 in a tangle with Blackhawks right wing Marian Hossa, leaving the game briefly with an apparent injury to his right arm, but he and Yeo have said repeatedly hes fine. Really, at this point in the playoffs, any pain is mostly an afterthought. So, too, is the elimination scenario for the Wild. "I think we like the challenge. We always seem to make things harder than it needs to be. I dont know if thats a good thing to do, but it seems throughout the year thats kind of been the way weve gone about it," Suter said. So the teams will take the ice on Tuesday, with the pressure on each side higher than its been all season. "I think we know what theyre doing. I think they know pretty much what were doing, too," Blackhawks defenceman Johnny Oduya said. "From this point I think its just a matter of will and who wants to win the most and whos fresher and who plays better." ' ' ' |
