VOORHEES, N.J. — Life in the NHL consists of constant pressure.
But life with cancer consists of something much more real, much more powerful.
It provides perspective. Much-needed perspective.
Just ask Flyers Broadcast Network host Jason Myrtetus, who is undergoing stage 4 colorectal cancer treatments. With the Flyers stuck in a nine-game losing streak to open the season, Myrtetus spoke to the team Saturday morning.
You can bet his message resonated. The Flyers went on to play their best game of the season that night, picking up win No. 1 with a 3-1 decision over the Senators at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
“Jason’s an incredible person,” Nick Seeler said Sunday after practice. “For him to have the courage to come into our room and share his story, it was an incredible story. He’s in a battle for his life and it put things certainly into perspective. We’re playing a hockey game and he’s battling cancer. For him to do that, it meant the world to our group. We think the world of Jason, he’s an amazing human being.”
Myrtetus is still working. He worked Saturday night like he always does. Kevin Kurz of The Athletic wrote an outstanding piece on Myrtetus’ fight.
Before Rick Tocchet started his postgame press conference, the head coach tossed a game puck to Myrtetus, thanking him for his message. Tocchet loved what it did for his players.
“I just felt after he left, there was a little bit of a pause or silence,” Tocchet said. … “It was moving. It was a message to the guys, like, hey, you should be happy. We’re in the NHL, we’re playing a game. We’re asking for effort. This guy’s going through stuff that you can’t imagine going through.”
After the win, the Flyers’ locker room recognized Myrtetus as the player of the game. This season, the team-picked honoree for each win will be given Rocky Balboa replica boxing gloves.
Len Redkoles/Getty ImagesLen Redkoles/Getty Images
“He was excited,” Seeler said. “You can tell it meant a lot. But it meant a lot to our group, too, to have him there and be there for us.”
Myrtetus gave the Flyers what they needed.
“It was really cool to hear his story and how much of a warrior and a fighter he is,” Denver Barkey said. “It put things into perspective for us, that we can go out there. There are a lot worse things that are going on with people’s lives. He’s a fighter and I think he really motivated us.
“It just gave us a different perspective toward things. It gave us that motivation, but also that extra push to sacrifice for one another. We’ve always talked about coming in a pack. It was really cool to hear from him.”