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Ottawa Senators Bobby Ryan Writes Heartfelt Tribute to Mom

By Ian Smith

Mar 3, 2016; Ottawa, Ontario, CAN; Ottawa Senators right wing Bobby Ryan (6) sets up for a face off in the second period against the Tampa Bay Lightning at the Canadian Tire Centre. The Lightning defeated the Senators 4-1. Mandatory Credit: Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 3, 2016; Ottawa, Ontario, CAN; Ottawa Senators right wing Bobby Ryan (6) sets up for a face off in the second period against the Tampa Bay Lightning at the Canadian Tire Centre. The Lightning defeated the Senators 4-1. Mandatory Credit: Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports /
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Ottawa Senators right winger Bobby Ryan recently lost his mother to cancer, and took it upon himself to tell a little bit more of her courageous story.

Ryan penned a heartfelt essay in the Players’ Tribune that was dedicated to his mother. In the letter addressed to her, Ryan explains how instrumental she was in keeping his dreams of playing professional hockey alive when the family was going through terrible adversity.

Ryan’s father assaulted his mother so badly that he fractured her skull, broke multiple ribs, and punctured her lung when Ryan was just 10 years old. His father was charged with attempted murder, but jumped bail and fled to Canada.

Ryan and his mother eventually reconciled with the father, and lived under assumed names as his father continued evading the law.

The family eventually relocated to California so that Ryan could play youth hockey in an elite feeder system.

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Ryan’s father was eventually apprehended. Suddenly facing a life as a single mother, Melody found herself having to work two jobs to support the family, while still providing her son with the warmth of a loving home.

The letter details the lengths that Melody went to help her son achieve his NHL dream. She worked as an assistant GM at a rink so that her son could skate for free. She also worked at an airline so that her son could fly on stand-by for hockey tournaments.

Ryan himself expresses remorse in the letter that he didn’t have more time to repay her for all she did for him.

Melody died of liver cancer just 6 weeks after Ryan’s daughter was born, and Ryan promises in the letter that he’ll always tell his daughter what a remarkable person her grandmother was.

The Players’ Tribune is really a great outlet for athletes to directly pour their thoughts and feelings out into the world in a way that’s far more personal than the 140 characters that Twitter allows.

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Anybody who isn’t just a fan of hockey, but also a fan of the human spirit should check out Ryan’s letter. His mom would be very proud of the person he has become, and he attributes it all to her.

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