40+ goal scorer nets one for deceased family member

He jumped on the ice and kept quiet about the devastating news....

HockeyFeed
HockeyFeed
Published 6 years ago
40+ goal scorer nets one for deceased family member
Keystone Press

The San Jose Sharks are not having a great start to the 2017-18 season, but it seems so unimportant when real life events take over. 

Captain Joe Pavelski jumped on the ice last night, against the New Jersey Devils, with a heart full of grief. He still managed to score the second goal of his team's 3-0 victory, and it meant a lot to him and his family. 

Pavelski lost his uncle Roger on Thursday, but didn't tell the upsetting news to his teammates or coach Pete DeBoer until after the game. The star forward revealed, with a broken heart, his family’s loss and what the goal meant to him.

“I was a little surprised it went in,” Pavelski to the Athletic. “I was really tight to the goalie at the time. A lot of times they are able to shut those down.

“Actually, one of my uncles passed yesterday, and that was the one thing from family that they said — get a goal for that. I don’t think that goal probably should have went in, so I’m sure he had a little bit to do with that.”

Here is the goal in honour of Roger: 


Our thoughts and prayers are with Pavelski and his family during this hard time.