Bowling Green State University Athletics
Sigalet Goes For Big Time: MS Hasn't Derailed Goalie
September 14, 2006 | Ice Hockey
Sept. 14, 2006
WILLMINGTON - When Bruins goaltending hopeful Jordan Sigalet, then playing at Bowling Green University, went public in March 2003 about his diagnosis with multiple sclerosis, he received a barrage of supportive letters and e-mails.
Among those that meant the most to Sigalet: A letter in the stationary of the Detroit Red Wings, from a man he didn't know.
"With all the e-mails and everything I got, the one thing that sticks out most in my mind was that I got a letter in the mail from Dave Lewis wishing me all the best," Sigalet said of the new Bruins' head coach, who three years ago was coaching the Red Wings.
"I had never met him," said Sigalet. "But he had known someone with MS and just wanted to write to me. Now that he's here, it's kind of neat. It's pretty great when people take the time to do something like that."
The amazing story of the 25-year-old Sigalet, of course, has inspired many people, especially those who have the disease.
It was something of a medical miracle that Sigalet, despite his potentially debilitating ailment, not only was able to continue his stellar college career, but was named a CCHA All-Star, selected as a Hobey Baker Award finalist (2004-05), and now has gone on to a professional hockey career.
Sigalet played quite well last season at Providence (AHL), going 19-11-2 with a 2.55 goals-against average, made one memorable NHL appearance for the Bruins, and this year should again be the goalie-in-waiting an hour down the road with the P-Bruins.
It was all made possible by a drug called Rebif, which has checked the symptoms of MS, including numbness, loss of balance and coordination, visions and speech difficulties. The British Columbia native began taking Rebif six months after his diagnosis.
"The drug doesn't always work for everyone, but it's been working great for me," said Sigalet, who has been symptom free going on three years. "I've been feeling great. I've had no progressions, no new lesions on my brain or spine. I couldn't ask for more."
Sigalet has been an eager participant in a public-speaking campaign organized by pharmaceutical companies Serono and Phizer, which co-market Rebif. This summer he made inspirational talks in Boston, New York, Florida and other venues around the United States.
He no doubt got a laugh or two describing his very brief NHL career.
"It was 43 seconds," Sigalet said with a laugh yesterday. "I don't know if that would be a record for shortest NHL career. It'd almost be nice to have the record. At least I'd be in the record book somewhere.
"There was a thing on numbers in the Hockey News, numbering from 10-to-1. Four was the number of Scott Stevens, who'd retired. The number 1 was, `The number of minutes Jordan Sigalet played.'
"But it was an awesome experience. I wouldn't trade it for anything."
It happened Jan. 7 at the TD Banknorth Garden, a 6-3 win for the Bruins against Tampa Bay, when Andrew Raycroft was injured with 0:43 left. Sigalet, who spent 17 days up with the B's and dressed as backup for six games, had to go in.
"It came out of nowhere," he said. "You're sitting on the bench with the game almost over. You're freezing cold. And you get thrown in there. I mean, it was something else. The guys were joking around with me after the game, saying, `Good job, nice win.' "
Sigalet didn't face a shot, but loved every one of his precious few seconds in the big league.
"Just to be out there on the ice in an NHL game is something you dream of when you're a little kid," he said. "It wasn't long. But I got a taste of it. Now I want a lot more. That's what I'm working for."
With a year of pro experience, and after an intense summer of workouts that carved his weight to 165 pounds and improved his quickness, Sigalet hopes to make a few more entries into his NHL resume.
"I learned a lot at Providence last year, having coach (Scott) Gordon there, an ex-goalie, he taught me a lot," said Sigalet. ". . .Now I want to take the things I learned last year and apply them here."
And add to what already has be considered some sort of miracle.
