Hamonic shares heart wrenching details behind his absence.

A very difficult situation for any father.

HockeyFeed
HockeyFeed
Published 5 years ago
Hamonic shares heart wrenching details behind his absence.
Daniel Lea/CSM/Zuma

Calgary Flames defenseman Travis Hamonic is, in my estimation, one of the truly good guys in the sport of professional hockey and it is for that reason that he has always been a nearly universally beloved figure within the National Hockey League. It's also for that reason that when Hamonic suddenly had to step away from the game due to some "family issues" there was real and genuine concern for his well being and that of his family. 

We now know that the motivating factor behind Hamonic's absence was the health and well being of his baby girl, Charlie Hamonic, who suddenly became seriously ill and needed to be rushed to the Alberta Children's Hospital in Calgary for treatment. It would be a harrowing moment for any father but for Travis Hamonic, a man who has already suffered some heart wrenching family tragedies in his young life, the thought of losing another loved one must have been agonizing. Hamonic would tell reporters this week that the experiencing had been a haunting one for both he and his wife Stephanie Hamonic , although surprisingly the proud papa managed to find a silver lining in even this horrible situation.

“She’s been really sick,” Hamonic said as per the Calgary Sun “It’s been a hard week for my wife and I and our entire family. To watch my daughter like that, she’s the strongest person I know. The strength and the perseverance to keep fighting like she has all week, as a Dad it brings tears to your eyes for numerous reasons. To say how proud I am for her to fight through and push through … to see your daughter in that circumstance is a nightmare.”

Hamonic has always put his family first, in fact when he was with the New York Islanders he had reportedly quietly demanded a trade so that he could be closer to a family member that had fallen ill, so it comes as no surprise that his daughter was his top priority in this situation. In fact Hamonic made it clear that hockey was a distant second when it comes to his family, and that should come as no surprise to any parent out there.

“Everything goes out the window,” Hamonic said. “My wife and I haven’t left her side, we’ve been sitting in the room with her 24/7 and we probably won’t leave her side, even when she’s 50. We play a game for a living and it’s my job and I take my job seriously. But my daughter is the most important focal point in my life.

The good news is that Hamonic, who has always been a classy guy, stated that he had the full support of both his fellow Calgary Flames' teammates as well as the backing of the Flames' organization during his tough time.

“The team was super respectful. The guys and the coaches and everyone was so supportive. I basically put one call in and said I was going to be gone until my daughter was better … it’s hard to talk about.”

Hopefully little Charlie will make a full and speedy recovery.

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