When Mike Reilly made his way from cardiac surgery, one of the things that told himself: “Let’s make a great story with this.”
That is exactly what Reilly did when he returned to the islanders the season that had his procedure, and that is why he was appointed Wednesday morning as nominated of the team for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy for perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication, as an association chosen.
“Obviously, many types that are ready for the award, have a unique history or situation,” Reilly said. “The times are difficult, they go through some adversity. There is a lot of scope in terms of what the situation could really be.
“Anyway, I think it is a testimony that many of the hockey men have to go through things. I feel that the culture of hockey and how men compete so hard on the ice, something is exploited and is a situation of life, these guys are fights to fight against the fight? Fighttte will go through things, including myself.
Three islanders have won the Masterton Trophy before: Robin Lehner (2019), Mark Fitzpatrick (1992) and Ed Westfall (1977).
Reilly, a 10 -year -old NHL veteran, has dealt with several situations throughout her career, being changed three times, released by the Bruins after spending time at AHL and being renounced by Panthers. However, none compared to the abnormality that doctors found in their recovery of cardiac duration of a brain shock in November.
The problem was not life, not even a career. Even so, a heart condition is a heart condition.
“I owe Myelf to move forward,” Reilly said. “Obviously, there are many difficult days. For me it was, let’s push, let’s see where it is going a little. The organization has a great bone. When I was choosing the surgeon and other things. [Islanders GM] Lou Lamoriello was great, very communicative and transparent. Obviously my family has been great, many of my brothers and sisters have [visited] Through the year. I had an extended Christmas break, which was pleasant.
“I feel that I had many people on my corner, giving me motivation to overcome it. It will be a great story if you can return. That was my goal.”
Since he returned in mid -March, Reilly has played six games. Playing anyone at all, or course, is a victory.
“He is something we look at somehow, when it happened [it]”Coach Patrick Roy said.” … It is good to see a guy like him that people recognize what the leg is doing. “
Reilly says it has always been optimistic. That’s why I wanted to turn this into a great story. In many ways, this is how he could do it.
The order of this season, beginning with a success of Jordan Greenway that left Reilly unconscious in Buffalo on November 1, was still different from everything that has happened.
The symptoms of brain shock were dissipated relatively fast, but routine tests rotate that process increased heart condition. Reilly still can’t believe how lucky that doctors had to find him in such a way.
At 31, he still has some career. Same important, he has the rest of his life waiting, and the good fortune of having Dalt with such a problem before worse.
“Although it was a great situation, I think there was much good and positive for the health of a lifetime and other things,” Reilly said. “It makes me put in perspective and put the hockey on one side a bit.”
