Though 15 years apart in age, Carolina veteran defenseman Glen Wesley and rookie goaltender Cam Ward share a common bond through religion.

Hockey a leap of faith
for Wesley, Ward
By Chuck Gormley | NHL.com correspondent
May 30, 2006

On the surface, it would seem Carolina Hurricanes veteran defenseman Glen Wesley and rookie goaltender Cam Ward have very little in common.

Wesley is a 37-year-old husband and father of three children. Ward is 22 and single.

Wesley enters Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals as the NHL's longest suffering playoff participant with 160 postseason games under his belt without ever sipping from the Stanley Cup. Ward entered these playoffs having played just 28 regular-season games and his only Stanley Cup playoff experience came with a remote in his hand. The two are bonded, however, by something rarely talked about in hockey circles: their faith.

In addition to being considered one of the NHL's steadiest defenseman of the past decade, Wesley is known for his strong religious convictions. He can recite Bible passages with the same confidence he uses in calmly breaking up 2-on-1s. Wesley is careful not to push his beliefs on any of his teammates, allowing each to prepare for games in his own way.

"Guys have different beliefs and different backgrounds, so they're going to rely on different things," Wesley said. "When I go out on the ice I have a real sense of peace instead of being uptight or afraid, because I know that whatever happens, we're called to go out there and lay it all on the line."

Chuck Gormley covers the Philadelphia Flyers for the South Jersey Courier-Post. His Eastern Conference notebook appears each Tuesday during the season on NHL.com. Related Links: Western Conference notebook East Notes, May 23, 2006 East Notes, May 16, 2006 East Notes, May 9, 2006 East Notes, May 2, 2006 East Notes, Apr. 25, 2006 Complete East Notes Archive

During the Christmas season, Wesley invited several members of the Hurricanes to join him and his family at their church's annual Christmas play. Ward was one of the teammates who accepted the invitation.

"Being a rookie, it definitely meant a lot to me to have a longtime NHL veteran take on that role and include his teammates in worship," Ward told the Hurricanes' web site.

"Before every game I will pray just before I go on the ice," said Ward, who has a small cross painted onto the back of his goalie helmet. "God gave me a special talent, and I will be forever grateful for that. When I say a prayer, it really helps me feel more relaxed and calm."

Wesley and Ward showed plenty of composure in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals Sunday night as the Canes' moved to within one win of the Stanley Cup Finals with a pivotal 4-3 overtime victory in Raleigh. Early in overtime, Wesley sacrificed his body by sliding, belly to the ice, to break up a Sabres' scoring chance.

Minutes earlier, Ward moved across his crease to make a right pad save -- perhaps the biggest of the series -- on Sabres forward Jochen Hecht.

The calm demeanor Ward possesses in his cage has proven to be contagious.

"We remain unsure that Cam even possesses a pulse," said Hurricanes center Eric Staal, who has shown his own measure of maturity with a 15-game point scoring playoff streak. "And he doesn't ever over-think things. We hope that will allow him to continue on this great roll that he is on."

Ward has to be one of the most charming success stories of these playoffs. Relegated to backup duty behind Swiss Olympic sensation Martin Gerber, Ward was used so sparingly during the regular season he was sent to the minors to sharpen his skills. Down the stretch he lost three of his final four games, allowing 14 goals in those three losses. But Ward kept the faith -- in himself and in Hurricanes coach Peter Laviolette.

"I don't think it's been difficult to keep my faith this year," said Ward. "That's something that's aside from hockey and really comes first. In hockey, everyone goes through ups and downs, but it's how you react and respond to those situations that really matters."

When Gerber was weakened by the flu in the second game of the playoffs, Laviolette made the bold move to Ward and crossed his fingers the gamble would pay off. It didn't initially, as the Hurricanes lost, 6-5, to the Montreal Canadiens in double overtime. But Ward played well enough to get his first playoff start in Game 3 and won. Laviolette stuck with him and the Leap Year rookie from Sherwood Park, Alberta -- technically, his Feb. 29 birthday makes him just four years old -- reeled off seven-straight victories, allowing two or fewer goals in each game. Ward carried the Canes into the Eastern Conference Finals, but when he allowed four goals on 26 shots in Game 4, Laviolette sat him on the bench in favor of Gerber.

Thinking the pressure cooker of the playoffs might be getting too hot for the rookie goalie, Laviolette again rolled the dice by inserting Gerber into the starting lineup for Sunday night's crucial Game 5.

Again, Ward rewarded his coach's instincts, stopping all 15 shots he faced, including that point-blank attempt by Hecht that led to Cory Stillman's overtime goal and a raucous frenzy by a growing legion of Carolina Caniacs.

Ward said he's been careful not to get caught up in the hoopla of the playoffs, even though his play is being scrutinized on a save-by-save basis.

"You have to remind yourself to be thankful for the skills and the talents that you've been blessed with," Ward said. "It's just really exciting for me to be a part of such a great hockey club, playing the highest level of hockey in the entire world."

Cam Ward's rise to the NHL included successful stops in the WHL and AHL, with numerous playoff appearances.

Ward might be considered an overnight success in the Raleigh-Durham area, but folks back in Red Deer, Alberta saw this coming years ago.

When he was 18 and a member of the Red Deer Rebels of the Western Hockey League, Ward carried his team to the Western League Finals with a 14-9 playoff record and a 2.12 GAA. The following year he returned to the Finals, again losing in Game 6 while lowering his GAA to 2.09. At age 20, Ward again lowered his playoff GAA to 1.85, but the Rebels were eliminated in the semifinals of the 2004 playoffs. The Hurricanes were so impressed with Ward's early accomplishments they made him the second goaltender selected in the 2002 Entry Draft, behind No. 2 Kari Lehtonen, at 25th overall.

Four years later, Ward is making that draft day decision look like a stroke of genius. But he's too grounded to let his sudden success get to his head.

"I think it's very important to enjoy the moment, be thankful for it and make the best of it," Ward said.

Wesley would agree. No one in the Hurricanes locker room has played more NHL seasons than Wesley's 18, and no active player in the NHL has been through as many playoff battles without a Stanley Cup as the red-headed, and now red-bearded, Wesley.

Wesley has played more games for the Hurricanes/Whalers than anyone not named Ron Francis and would like nothing more than to bring a championship to the hockey-crazed Raleigh-Durham community. But if his hockey career ends before he has a chance to raise the Cup over his broad shoulders, Wesley said he'll have no regrets.

"I know that if it's His will, then great," Wesley said. "But if not, I've had a great ride. I don't hold that as a priority."

No go for Cole -- Anyone who has seen Erik Cole's valiant attempt to come back from a serious neck injury had to be saddened by the news he will miss the remainder of the playoffs.

Hurricanes President and GM Jim Rutherford made the announcement Friday, saying a return to the lineup could put Cole's health in jeopardy.

"The CT scan shows that Erik continues to make excellent progress through healthy healing, but it wouldn't be prudent to allow him to return to a contact sport such as professional hockey at this time," said Hurricanes orthopedist Dr. Doug Martini. "He's made excellent progress physically, and diagnostic tests show that he continues to improve."

It was on March 4 that Cole suffered a fractured vertebra in his neck on a hit from the Pittsburgh Penguins' Brooks Orpik. Cole began skating again two weeks ago and began practicing with his teammates last week, hoping to return sometime during the Finals.

Give the Hurricanes credit for taking the decision out of Cole's hands because hockey players have an innate ability to play through incredible pain.

"This is not an injury that anybody wants to rush," Laviolette said. "I have said all along, first and foremost, we're happy that he's going to be able to return to the game of life and spend it with his wife and kids. That is first and foremost.

"Secondly, if he plays in the future, whether it's next year, in training camp, if he comes back and plays hockey for the Carolina Hurricanes, that would be terrific."

Cole, who scored 30 goals in 60 regular-season games for the Hurricanes, is expected to make a full recovery.