"What happened" and its continuing aftermath couldn't stand in starker contrast to the scene inside Xcel Energy Center Suite 72 on Sunday night. The casual observer never would've known the 20 or so players in attendance at Sunday's Wild game survived one of the deadliest mass shootings in U.S. history when 19-year-old former student Nikolas Cruz opened fire inside a classroom building.
But the healing power of sport has been on full display since Stoneman Douglas won the Florida state title 11 days after the massacre; the 17 players who received medals promptly hung them on the 17 memorials dedicated to victims outside the school.
A few weeks later came a trip to the State of Hockey for the proud club program's fourth national tournament appearance. The Eagles went 1-2 in Plymouth during the past week, but the results weren't the story.
Wayzata allowed Stoneman Douglas full use of its locker room. Edina's junior gold team gifted game-worn jerseys from earlier in the season. Regis Jesuit (Colorado) gave them a gigantic signed "MSD Strong" banner along with a No. 17 sweater. The Florida Panthers flew the team in on the NHL team's charter plane. And the Wild welcomed the group of 68 players, parents, coaches and staff to its game Sunday against Boston before the team heads back to Florida on Monday.
"We felt the love right when we got here," senior forward Joey Zenobi said. "We had people coming up to us on the streets saying, 'Thank you for being here. We feel you.' It's been great so far."
Dedicating their postseason to the victims provided light to a community amid an unthinkably dark time. But a nearly weeklong trip to conclude the season brought these players -- who lost classmates, friends, teachers and one junior varsity player's sister -- and their families an even simpler means of recovery.
Just having some fun.
Coach Eric LaForge says he still can't put it into words "other than just saying I am truly proud of these boys, the way they've held themselves on and off the ice.
"It's been," the coach pauses for a moment, collecting his thoughts, "it's been unbelievable."
The team's sojourn north ended with a Wild night that included the team making the "Let's Play Hockey!" call and a couple players showing off their dance moves on the video board. Afterward, one by one, Wild players and coaches on their way out of the building greeted the group, signed autographs and shared stories and laughs.
The Stoneman Douglas team has one more day in the Twin Cities before a late flight out of town Monday night. The players will enjoy this week of spring break, then return to the site where their lives were forever altered.
But there's a silver (and maroon) lining to a journey that's far from over, senior captain Matthew Hauptman said when asked what he's learned about himself and his teammates over the past few weeks.
"I've learned that people are very generous in trying to help when people are hurt and healing," Hauptman said. "There are good people out (there)."
Related:
- Watch: Stoneman Douglas Let's Play Hockey call
- Wild earns 3 of 4 points on busy weekend
- Wild welcomes U.S. women's Olympic team
