In Penguins training camp on a pro tryout contract, Leland Irving is beginning to find what Pittsburgh is all about.
Skating and speed? Star players? Two excellent goaltenders atop the NHL depth chart?
Well, yeah. Irving has noticed that. But he also has begun to learn about Austin’s Playroom, the Penguins’ affiliation with UPMC, and franchise co-owner Mario Lemieux’s charity work, through his foundation, raising money for cancer research and patient care.
Pediatric cancer is something near and dear to Irving’s heart because he went through it. When Irving was 8, the Swan Hills, Alberta, native was diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare type of cancer where malignant cells form in muscle tissue. Irving had a growth above his left ear that looked like an insect bite.
“I’ve heard the whole area has an unbelievable medical team and research team. Great facilities for cancer research,” Irving said. “That’s really cool. It’s something that hits close to home with me. Anytime professional hockey players can help out, it makes such a huge difference because I remember being on the other end of that.
“I can remember Doug Weight coming into the hospital room when I was going through chemo. Those things stick with you forever.”
After his diagnosis, Irving endured 13 months of chemotherapy. He missed just one practice and one game. Irving has had no subsequent problems.
The carrot after chemo came in the form of a Make-a-Wish experience that still makes Irving smile. The first part involved watching an Edmonton Oilers game from Curtis Joseph’s private box. He also met his childhood idol, Kirk McLean.
Later, the Vancouver Canucks invited Irving to practice with them.
“That’s something I’ll never forget,” Irving said.
Many hockey players, especially the Penguins, take great pride in using their fame to make children who are going through a rough time smile. For Irving, it hits closer to home. Especially when the diagnosis involves any form of cancer.
“Every chance I get, I try and get out there,” Irving said. “I know what it’s like. I’ve been on the other side and realize how much you can appreciate meeting [professional hockey players]. Meeting Doug Weight when I was younger and he came to the hospital, even if it’s for 2-3 minutes, it’s something you’ll never forget. You try and give back as much as you can.”
If that was the end of Irving’s story, that would be impressive enough. But it’s not. He’s a former first-round pick, chosen by the Calgary Flames in 2006, and he’s played in the AHL, ECHL, Russia and Finland since then.
Irving did see 13 NHL games with the Flames, but much of his career has been spent for AHL teams such as Quad City, Abbotsford and Iowa.
To make extra money and to keep the dream alive, he worked in the offseason for his father’s excavation company back home, digging ditches, clearing pipe and fueling and greasing trucks.
“My dad would let me operate the backhoe once in a while,” Irving said. “But anytime they were digging around live pipe or power lines, obviously he was under the controls.”
Irving is here because he would like to again man the controls of an NHL net, to earn a paycheck for his two young children at home in British Columbia and another on the way. The odds are stacked against him, especially with Tristan Jarry’s superb performance Wednesday at Chicago, but Matt Murray’s hand injury could open a job, even if it is temporary.
In addition to possessing quite a bit of life experience, Irving also has the benefit of having played in the NHL. But for obvious reasons, he isn’t thinking that far ahead.
“They have two great goalies here, so I don’t think there’s any panic up top,” Irving said. “I’m not sure that changes my situation a whole lot. I still have to go out there and really earn a spot, do the best I can and not get in my own head or let anything like that affect my play.”
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NOTE — The Penguins reassigned nine players to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Thursday: defensemen Barry Goers, Michael Webster and Ryan Segalla; and forwards Tom Kostopoulos, Milos Bubela, Gage Quinney, Jarrett Burton, Christian Hilbrich and Reid Gardiner.
Jason Mackey: jmackey@post-gazette.com and Twitter @JMackeyPG.
First Published: September 30, 2016, 4:00 a.m.