AS I SEE IT COLUMN: Dallas Stars fans and owner prove human decency is still alive in America

The image of Mark Scheifele, slumped over in the penalty box in overtime, watching the Dallas Stars eliminate his Jets from the playoffs, was gut-wrenching. After learning of his dad passing away just hours earlier, being the best Jet on the ice, scoring their only goal, only to watch helplessly as the Jets’ Stanley Cup dreams ended, is incomprehensible for anyone other than Mark to know how much he was suffering at that moment.

What has been so heart-warming to witness has been the outpouring of support from the people of Dallas.

First of all, the way the Dallas fans gave Mark a special ovation as he left the ice, spoke volumes about them.

Then we learned many people in Dallas are contributing to the “$55 for 55” charity in Mark’s name. That shows an amazing level of class.

The incredible display of support and respect each and every Dallas player and coach showed Mark when they met in the handshake line was beautiful to behold. Every one of them stopped Mark and gave him a hug.

Handshakes at the end of a series are always special; this one was infused with more emotion than any post game handshake the sport of hockey has ever seen.

Hockey players know of the special bond between hockey dads and hockey kids, and they clearly wanted to extend their sympathies to Mark and let him know how brave he was to play under such heartache.

I bet most of them called their fathers right after the game to say “thanks dad.” I’m sure for every member of the Jets and Stars, after the highly emotional experience of playing a game under such solemn and grief-stricken circumstances, will have a poignant Father’s Day.

There were rumours that the owner of the Dallas Stars offered his private jet to fly Mark to his parent’s home in Kitchener immediately after the game. This was confirmed by the Stars beat writer but the Jets beat writer said Mark flew home to Winnipeg with his teammates.

Whether or not Mark accepted the Dallas owner’s generous and thoughtful offer is beside the point. What matters is that the offer was made in the first place. What a touching gesture of compassion.

Two things stand out in this heartbreaking story of grief and the display of empathy shown by the Dallas Stars fans and owner.

One, there is something about hockey that is unique in North American team sports. I doubt if all these scenes and gestures of support shown in Dallas to Scheifele would happen in football, basketball or baseball.

Clearly there is something deeply ingrained within the DNA of hockey that makes it special, that makes it realize that life is so much more important than a game. The people of Dallas and the owner of the Stars showed class and human compassion at a time when it was desperately needed by Scheifele.

Hats off to them for doing what they could to console someone who was likely as distraught and in more agony than at any time in his life.

Two, it proves that despite all of the disturbing talk of annexing Canada as the 51st state and the disrespect shown to our Prime Minister by calling him ‘governor’, our “elbows up” anger is directed solely at the White House, not at the American people writ large.

The compassionate folks in Dallas are proof – and a much needed reminder — that many Americans are kind and considerate people that don’t share the inhumane cruelty that animates every action and utterance of their president.

While he seems wholly incapable of normal, human empathy, the kind and decent people of Dallas have shown Winnipeggers, Manitobans, Canadians, the entire hockey world and most importantly the Scheifele family, that many Americans have a beautiful and caring heart.

It was a life-affirming display of human decency and goodwill, one that won’t be forgotten for a very long time.