Sports is often cited as a way to escape from the drudgery often encountered in every day life. Sometimes, it does more than help us escape. It actually can contribute to the our healing. The NHL’s Tampa Bay Lightning did their part this past week in recognizing a slain police officer who loved hockey just like they do. Combined with the team’s Fan Fest event, the team both raised money for and the profile of the Corporal Mike Roberts Memorial Fund. The full article can be found at http://www.abcactionnews.com/news/local/story/Lightning-honor-fallen-Tampa-officer/yf08ubeCmUGVM_yChZbWng.cspx, with an excerpt provided below.

(Excerpt)

TAMPA, FL — In the Tampa Bay Lightning’s locker room, tonight some of the team’s finest suited up along side some of Tampa’s finest.  All of them hitting the ice  to honor a hero, Cpl. Mike Roberts.

Roberts was laid to rest earlier this week, after he was gunned down during a routine call.

“We know that he’s watching right now – and he’s gonna be making fun of us – and he’s gonna be cheering us on at the same time.” said Detective Michael Hutner.

Roberts was the goalie of the Tampa Police hockey team, always eager, his friend said, to play the game he’d been passionate about since he was a kid. Saturday his widow Cindy and little boy Adam were greeted by the players before the game. Lightning starts who said it was their honor – to play today in Roberts’ memory.

“Police officers have obviosly been very touched by it, for us as a Lightning orgnaziation, its kind of a no-brainer” said former Lightning star Dave Andreychuk.  (The article continues at http://www.abcactionnews.com/news/local/story/Lightning-honor-fallen-Tampa-officer/yf08ubeCmUGVM_yChZbWng.cspx)