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Hockey Night in the Caribbean
Invariably, though, you can’t be in the company of Messier without wondering about his future with the game. As the NHL makes its way through the playoffs, it’s still hard to believe that Messier plays no part in it. And it’s patently obvious that the post-lockout league is sadly lacking in giants of the game, despite the way it celebrates and promotes young stars like Sidney Crosby and Alexander Ovechkin. One of the most memorable highlights of last season was January 12, 2006, when a raucous Madison Square Garden took 75 minutes to celebrate the retiring of Messier’s number 11. After the retirement ceremony, an emotionally spent Messier retreated from his homes in New York and South Carolina to this side project on a patch of Harbour Island. Is Messier really through with hockey? Has he traded his Bauers for Crocs, his trademark WinnWell helmet for a broken-in fishing cap? When asked point blank, he concedes, no. “I envision returning to the game in some capacity in the next year or two.” But he says this with his young son balanced on his knee, and it’s clear he realizes the toll a hockey life can take on raising a family. Here Messier has become the consummate dad, preparing breakfasts and bottles, roughhousing on the beach with his kids. Two-minute timeouts have replaced five-minute majors, and there is nary a nanny in sight. It’s a stark contrast to the increasingly weary face of best friend Wayne Gretzky, whose return to the rink has been bumpy as he tries to make the Phoenix Coyotes a winning hockey club. Still, certain people are part of the fabric of the game. Recently, Messier has hinted that it’d be a dream to one day succeed his mentor, Glen Sather, as GM of the New York Rangers, though he’s also very conscious of the work required to get there. Sather, a man whose influence on Messier is second only to that of his father, Doug, is philosophical when it comes to his potential heir apparent’s future: “Mark is an absolute natural to get back involved with the game – with the Rangers or any other team. He’s got a terrific hockey mind.” But today such thoughts seem far in the future. The kids are swimming in the azure water, and later the family will stroll down the beach to Sip Sip for lunch. The forecast is for low winds, so Messier will head out to sea. Tuna is on the menu, and the kitchen staff will be relying on him to secure the catch of the day. And Mark Messier will never let his team down. Write to us: letters@enroutemag.net |
