With heavy heart, Wild's Scandella scores tying goal for ailing father
Minnesota Wild defenseman Marco Scandella honored his ailing father the best way he knew how.
Sandella scored the tying goal in the third period on Saturday in the Wild's 3-2 setback to the Central Division-rival Dallas Stars. The 25-year-old Montreal native, who had been away from the team for one week, told reporters that the tally was for his father, Francesco.
Scandella said when his dad passes, he's going to stay with the #mnwild and fulfill his dad's wishes. Just a heartbreaking situation
— Michael Russo (@Russostrib) November 17, 2015
"My dad doesn't have much time left, so I'm really happy the (Wild) let me go home and say goodbye to him," Scandella told the Minneapolis Star Tribune of his father, who is dying of prostate cancer.
"... He taught me most of what I know today. I'm just going to have to keep proving his name and being a great person, a great player and just doing what he taught me."
Scandella has scored three goals and set up three others in 14 games this season. A second-round selection of the 2008 draft, Scandella has recorded 21 tallies and 40 assists in 243 career contests - all with the Wild.
