It’s tough to leave loved ones for a period of time. Many people have to leave their families, children, wives, or husbands weekly or monthly for their jobs. It’s not easy, but the job has to get done, much like hockey players that will be away from their loved ones for a few a months (Possibly) to play the sport they love, and work.
Some people say it’s easy because they make millions, so those players will be ok. What people forget is that they are human too, “It’s going to suck that you don’t see your family or kids for a long time, but I mean, if it’s the price we have to pay, yeah we’re going to do that,” Jakub Voracek said yesterday, “There’s people outside who don’t have insurance, can’t get the medical support they need, and they’re struggling with this. So I think we have it pretty good.” Like Jake says it’s tough being away from family, but some people have it worse. That’s a great way of looking at it, as the players families are also making sacrifices too, but this shows human side of the player(s).
“It’ll be tough for some guys being away from their families and friends, so that’s going to be an adjustment,” Carter Hart said, “For now, this is our family. This is our hockey family we have. That’s the way we have to look at it.” Each players goal is to win the Stanley Cup, that’s why they play the game. Let’s be honest that is one main reason these players are eager to return and play.
Sports gives a sense of normalcy and every hockey player is making a sacrifice to bring a sense of normalcy back to the World with sports returning, “Being away from family is one of the hardest things I’ve had to do, you know say goodbye,” Brian Elliott says, “I was just on a FaceTime call and the first question you get asked is, ‘are you coming home dad.’ They just don’t understand it. That’s been really hard for me personally. That’s kind of the sacrifices you’ve got to make right now to be part of something special. Looking forward to it. We know it’s not going to last forever, so you’ve got to battle through a little bit. You have to appreciate what your family’s doing at home and what sacrifices they’re making. I don’t think that gets brought up in the media as well. If I can say it publicly, thank you to my wife for sure for taking care of the little ones while we’re gone.”
Players are used to their families or loved ones being in attendance. Unfortunately, families and loved ones can’t come to the hub city ‘Bubble’ until the Conference Finals. It’s tougher than what most people think, as players are again accustomed to having their family support, “Obviously we’re going to miss the people who are close to us, but we’re getting an opportunity here to compete for the Stanley Cup,” Alain Vigneault said, “We’ve got the best facilities and the best people taking care of us, and if you look at what’s going on in the world right now where people are losing their jobs, losing their businesses, going from paycheck to paycheck, we’re one of the lucky ones. We’re playing a sport we all love. You don’t get a chance to compete for the Cup every year, and we do have that opportunity. You’ve got to stay safe during this phase here in Philly to get to the bubble. I don’t expect to hear really a lot of complaining.” Vigneault said some great words here, you don’t have a shot at the Cup every year, but more importantly he speaks to the fans too. Some are hurting from this pandemic, and sports would bring a sense of hope to some. This makes the players and coaches human, stuff happening around us affect them too.
“Obviously, not being around your family for so long is going to take a toll mentally,” Derek Grant said, “You can’t say enough about everyone’s families back home and the sacrifices they’re having to make for us to be here and chase our dream and to after the Cup.”
Nothing has been easy during this pandemic. Some people’s World’s have and may still turned upside down. Well, the sport of hockey could provide a sense of normalcy, while the players’ make sacrifices for a shot at the Cup. Nothing has been easy in 2020, but let’s hope the Flyers bring home the ultimate prize.
