The Dark Blue Toddler and I attended our first Blue Jackets training camp practices last fall (He's now 2, so I got him in early!). Like most practices, the one in question saw a number of CBJ hopefuls hanging out after practice to work on their games and hopefully impress a coach or two in the process. One was Sigalet.
Note that I said "attended" when referring to DBT's presence, not "watched". The kid was a holy terror in Nationwide Arena, running the stairs and aisles like no one's business. I barely got to watch any hockey because I was chasing the little man around so much. (But hey, some hockey is better than no hockey...right?)
So DBT's charging down Row M (or so - I can't remember the precise row, but it was halfway up the section) from Nationwide Arena's Section 114 to 115, and I sat down to take a break and watch the prospects practice their shots and drills for a moment. So I'm on one far end of 114, and DBT's roughly at the far end of 115. Sigalet's apparently at center ice, but I was focusing on the drill at one goal.
THUD.
What was that? One of the other fans turns around and says, "Get that puck. It's for your son." I look down the aisle, and whaddya know. There's a puck! I double-take down to the ice, and there's Sigalet, offering a kind wave. I wave back, grab the puck and share it with DBT (who immediately tries to put it in his mouth).
So Jonathan Sigalet, a defenseman who couldn't crack the Columbus Blue Jackets' lineup, had enough talent in his post-practice fatigued body to chuck a puck halfway up the lower bowl and drop it into the precise row that DBT and I were in. Wow...that single shot spoke volumes to me about the level of talent out there on the NHL ice.
I always wanted to get the/ puck signed, but Sigalet was sent down to Springfield within a couple days of this occurrence. Never got the chance, and now he's playing in Russia.
Good luck, Jonathan. You're a class act, a generous guy...and I'll make sure my son has your puck around for the duration.
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