Torn between to Staals

Former NHL legend Phil Esposito once laughed when reminiscing on television about his brother Tony’s first NHL start, which came against Phil and the Boston Bruins. It was on December 5, 1969 when Phil called home after what was a 2-2 game and after telling his worried mom that Tony did really well, got an earful from her after saying that he scored both goals against him.

Even though they are not on the ice, mothers have always had that stressful sick feeling as they live and die with every play as they want their sons to be successful and because of their love, want them to accomplish the ultimate not only in the season but also on the biggest stage of hockey, which of course is the Stanley Cup Playoffs. In 2003, Scott and Rob Niedermayer’s mother who was at the games admitted to feeling torn up inside as her two sons Scott with the New Jersey Devils and Rob playing for Anaheim Ducks, battled tooth and nail for the Stanley Cup. Their mother talked about how if anything she was pulling for Rob because unlike Scott, he hasn’t experienced winning a Stanley Cup. Still, she admitted to feeling terrible knowing that one of them in the end will be heartbroken. When Scott became a free agent, two summers ago, one reason why he went to Anaheim was because it was always a life- time family dream for the brothers to play on the same team. Their mother also expressed relief of not having to experience those heartbroken feelings of having a dejected son when their teams battle each other in the playoffs. Heading into the second round of this year’s post season, Linda Staal is going through those exact same conflicting feelings as her two sons Jordan (Pittsburgh Penguins) and Marc (New York Rangers) are facing each other which of course is a no win situation for a mom. “My mom is already feeling sick,” said Marc who spoke to her just before the series began. Linda, who has a third son named Eric who won a cup with the Carolina Hurricanes in 2006, finds it easier for now to stay home with her husband in Thunder Bay to watch their sons on television, as opposed to watching live. “It’s going to be pretty hard to see them (in this series),” Linda said.  “That’s why we are still here in Thunder Bay. We’ll just watch on television instead. Linda, who admitted that it was hard to take when her sons locked horns in junior, admitted before the series to feeling some nausea but still hasn’t ruled out the possibility if the stress level goes down of attending some games.

 

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