Loss of a dear friend Maggie Sheach
It is with extreme sadness that I am writing this blog. I just found out the news of Maggie's passing. I know there is nothing that I can say or do that will ease the pain for the Sheach family. With that understanding, I would like to pass on a story that portrays the quality of Maggie and her family.
As most people know the addition of fans to the team bus was something that I opposed strongly, as I believe it is a spot for the team only like the dressing room. Following the loss of our main sponsor, we needed to trim costs and adding fans to the bus was necessary. Andi and Maggie Sheach knew my views on this topic and were willing to organize the buses and the fans on the bus for the remainder of the season. They did so knowing my concerns and took it upon themselves to make sure everything went according to plan.
For much of the season the players and I did not know that she was sick because of how happy she was and how she was able to deal with 20 hockey players watching movies until the early morning hours. It was not until the final road trip of the regular season to Hull that we found out the sad news.
Andi asked me earlier in the week before the Hull trip if it was ok for them to buy the players celebratory beer for all we had done for them this season. I told him that we did not need that but that it was a wonderful gesture and if he really wanted to we would not turn down such an offer.
After defeating Hull, Andi gave us the beer and handed me a note from his mother to the team. The note spoke of how much we gave her this season by winning down the stretch and being apart of it while being on the bus. She felt like she was on the team. Her emotional letter left our team silent and shocked because of how supportive she was to the players and myself. The note spoke of how proud she was of us and how great the men on our team were. It was a powerful and moving note, one that I still have today.
The following weekend, Andi and Maggie were unable to attend the playoff series because of her illness. Her last day with the team was that Hull trip. She became a part of the team this season. Win or lose she was smiling, even though she was battling so much. Maggie was a special woman and raised a great family, especially Andi, who I got to know very well.
Maggie Sheach will be missed on the Capitals bus, not just because she was a supporter, but rather because she made us better men by being around her. Melissa and I would like to express our condolences to the Sheach family. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
As most people know the addition of fans to the team bus was something that I opposed strongly, as I believe it is a spot for the team only like the dressing room. Following the loss of our main sponsor, we needed to trim costs and adding fans to the bus was necessary. Andi and Maggie Sheach knew my views on this topic and were willing to organize the buses and the fans on the bus for the remainder of the season. They did so knowing my concerns and took it upon themselves to make sure everything went according to plan.
For much of the season the players and I did not know that she was sick because of how happy she was and how she was able to deal with 20 hockey players watching movies until the early morning hours. It was not until the final road trip of the regular season to Hull that we found out the sad news.
Andi asked me earlier in the week before the Hull trip if it was ok for them to buy the players celebratory beer for all we had done for them this season. I told him that we did not need that but that it was a wonderful gesture and if he really wanted to we would not turn down such an offer.
After defeating Hull, Andi gave us the beer and handed me a note from his mother to the team. The note spoke of how much we gave her this season by winning down the stretch and being apart of it while being on the bus. She felt like she was on the team. Her emotional letter left our team silent and shocked because of how supportive she was to the players and myself. The note spoke of how proud she was of us and how great the men on our team were. It was a powerful and moving note, one that I still have today.
The following weekend, Andi and Maggie were unable to attend the playoff series because of her illness. Her last day with the team was that Hull trip. She became a part of the team this season. Win or lose she was smiling, even though she was battling so much. Maggie was a special woman and raised a great family, especially Andi, who I got to know very well.
Maggie Sheach will be missed on the Capitals bus, not just because she was a supporter, but rather because she made us better men by being around her. Melissa and I would like to express our condolences to the Sheach family. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
posted by Doug Christiansen at
19:09
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home