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As our backup goalie, it would have been easy for him to be taciturn over his position on the team Not a lot of opportunity for ice tihtly he shone when he did step out there to help our teaoalie, Legend Bay

But Baden wasn’t like that He was like the spirit of the tea cheerleader who kept us all pumped up, no matter how dire the circumstances He was simply one of those men who accepted his position While he surely had loftier aoalie someday—he never let it impair his loyalty to the team as a whole

But honestly, visiting Baden has almost become a chore lately There’s no doubt he has sunk into a deep depression over his disabilities as a result of the attack And not one person can hold it against him Not one of us wouldn’t spiral doard if our hockey career was taken away from us in a flash

Knowing that and e with it doesn’t make it any easier to see hiive up on him Whether he likes it or not, we’ve worked out a routine to ensure he gets a steady stream of visitors on an almost daily basis

I’ out to California toh I saw Baden not long ago, I wanted to get another visit in before I left I’ to be one day I walk into his roooofy smile Hopefully, because he’s happy to see me

He’s only been in this rehab hospital on the outskirts of Phoenix for a feeeks As I traverse the halls toward his room, I nod at a few people I’ve met Baden will be here for at least a month more, so I’m sure I’ll meet oes on After all, Baden is the hospital’s etting hi for that miracle of miracles that could possibly return him to the ice

Baden’s door is closed when I arrive, unlike reet people who pass by It’s a definite sign he has chosen to remove himself from the camaraderie within this rehab facility, and he prefers to be on his own While at Coach’s party, I heard from Dominik that Baden has hout his rehabilitation That had been sort of up in the air He’d been considering returning home to Montréal to be near his parents While we are all thrilled he has decided to stay here, there is a certain level of sadness, too, since he asked his parents to reure out why he wouldn’t want them here unless he just doesn’t want the he may have decided deep in his heart he’ll never have

Bottom line… I don’t think Baden has ain I’m not even sure he believes he has the ability to walk

Whatever is going on inside his head, he is clearly in a dark place It makes it more imperative than ever that the team rally behind him to do whatever we can to push him back toward his normal self The man who, only last season, believed more than any of us that we could win the Cup championship

I knock on the door, but I don’t wait for hi in a chair by theI can only iet him there Probably two male aides to lift his considerable fra Baden, it was probably hu to him Just as it would be to me

His head swings rown a few inches over the past couple of months He hasn’t shaved His beard is thick and full, but in desperate need of tri a plain white T-shirt and a pair of navy sweatpants, but it doesn’t hide the fact he’s lost muscle in his lower extremities They look thin under the plush cotton, his knees sticking out like knobs

“What’s up, man?” I ask

Baden lifts his chin in greeting “Not ht I’d watch the traffic down below for a change of pace”

I want to wince over those words, but I keep a pleasant smile plastered on le, and I move to take it “Heard you decided to stay in Phoenix for the course of your rehab”