If you have not heard this story, I highly recommend reading this.Today, Columbus Blue Jackets superfan Ryan Salmons passed away at the age of 19 after a long battle with cancer. Who was Ryan you ask?
Ryan was a young man who had been battling cancer for about a year now. He had met several Columbus Blue Jackets players throughout various Columbus Blue Jacket charity and community events. He had become especially close with Manny Malhotra and Jason Chimera. With Ryan's condition getting worse, but his spirits as high as ever, Columbus General Manager Scott Howson inked Ryan to a one-day contract in late March, with a signing bonus of $3.
For that day, Ryan was officially a Columbus Blue Jacket, a dream Ryan never thought possible. On that day, Ryan would sit up in the press box as a healthy scratch, with the other Blue Jacket scratches. If you're a hardcore hockey fan and noticed Blue Jacket defenceman Marc Methot wasn't wearing #3 that night, it was because that was Ryan's number, and Methot was more than willing to allow Ryan to have it. #3 Blue Jacket "Salmons" t-shirt jerseys have also been created. Here's the press release from Howson with the signing of Ryan:
"We're very pleased to add a player of Ryan's caliber to our hockey club as he brings tremendous versatility to our lineup and can play either wing position or defense," said Howson. "He also has great character and is the type of person who inspires others with his courage, tenacity and positive attitude. We're lucky to have him on our team."
Powerful stuff from the Blue Jackets organization, and obviously they used Ryan's courage and determination for a strong playoff push and the franchise's first ever playoff birth. Ryan was there to see the Columbus Blue Jackets play playoff hockey for the first time. He fought as long as he could, to see that until he unfortunately passed away today.
The entire Blue Jackets organization made the last few months of this young man's life an absolute dream, and it just goes to show the power pro sports can have on a person's life in difficult times.
Look no further than Mike Fisher and the Ottawa Senators involving 3-year old Elgin Fraser in the 2007 Stanley Cup run before he passed.
Or the Tampa Bay Lightning drafting David Carle in the 7th round, just days after he found out he could no longer play hockey because of a heart condition.
There is much more to hockey than winning games that isn't show in the highlights, and every team should be commended for using their power as a professional sports team to help bring smiles to people in tough times.
