Sens vs. Admirals 1/17/04 Articles: Paddock coaches B-Sens to victory after dad's death
January 18, 2004

Posted by: Bob Howard
Credit: Press Connects.com

Paddock coaches B-Sens to victory after dad's death

BY SCOTT LAUBER

Press & Sun-Bulletin

BINGHAMTON -- Just past 4:30 Saturday afternoon, John Paddock walked back into his office in the Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena after spending the previous five days in Manitoba with his ailing father, John.

Less than an hour later, and less than two before he was to coach the Binghamton Senators in a game against the Norfolk Admirals, Paddock learned his father had died.

So, it's safe to say the Senators' ensuing 6-3 victory was for the man behind the man who's been behind the bench for more wins than all but two coaches in American Hockey League history.

"I would think my dad would have wanted me to run the bench for two-and-a-half or three hours, and to some extent, that was easier than sitting in the house and thinking about it," Paddock said. "The hardest was before, and the hardest was after."

In between, the elder John Paddock would've liked the way the Senators played for his son.

Five players scored goals and 10 recorded points as the Senators climbed above .500 (18-17-4-2) and leaped two points ahead of the Admirals for the final playoff spot in the East Division.

Two first-period goals (by Julien Vauclair and Brad Tapper) and three second-period markers (by Denis Hamel, Alexandre Giroux and captain Chris Kelly) gave the Senators three two-goal leads and helped overcome a rocky performance from rookie goalie Billy Thompson, starting in place of all-star Ray Emery, who is nursing a right wrist injury suffered in a Dec. 28 brawl in Philadelphia.

But the game took its rightful place on a night when the Senators' hardened coach was grieving. After the game, Kelly handed the puck to Paddock -- "It's sort of a reminder of a pleasant memory from a tough day," Paddock said -- and each player chipped in to help with funeral arrangements.

"Some things are bigger than hockey," said 20-year-old center Brooks Laich. "We talked about how it would be really nice if we could get him (a win). This was a real heartfelt win."

Said Kelly: "It makes you think of how unimportant a game is when something like this happens. We all went out there thinking of John."

None of the Senators said they noticed a difference in Paddock's bench demeanor. But they all marveled at his ability to concentrate on his job after learning he would soon be burying his father, a farmer who died from heart problems related to complications from a recent hip procedure. He also had Alzheimer's Disease.

"He was always so supportive of us, no matter what we did," Paddock said. "A lot of things he did in his life were so I could pursue my dream in hockey. "

Said Giroux: "I can't believe he was behind the bench. But John is such a big winner. I don't think any of us were surprised."