I Respect This Man

Meet Stephan Robidas, defenseman for the Dallas Stars.

Robidas originally joined the league with the Montreal Canadiens, his hero team since he grew up in Quebec. His coaches there didn't care for him, telling him he would not make it in the NHL. Dallas picked him up, released him, then picked him up again.

Robidas has fought hard to improve his game, to the point where he is now considered a top tier defenseman, with an All Star game under his belt. He is under consideration for the Canadian Olympic Team, an honor for Canadians just short of winning the Stanley Cup.

Robidas is a stand up guy. I've seen him multiple times greeting fans, and he always has a smile on his face, and jokes with the fans. He never ducks the autograph line, unlike some of the more 'prima-donna' members of the team. I hope he decides to stay int he Dallas area when he retires, he is a credit to the Stars and the community.

Robidas, 32, has been injured multiple times in his career. His nose is flat against his face, from being broken so many time. He plays through pain that would have others lying in hospital beds - and he never brings attention to himself, never complains. He was recenly rewarded with a long, lucrative contract that will keep him a Star for several more years.

Why am I mentioning him here ... Robidas was hit int he face with a puck during Sunday's practice. He noticed something was wrong ...

"I saw a dent there, so I knew something was wrong. My cheek bone caved in a little bit. They had to do an incision on the side of my head and pop the bone back out. It was causing a little bit of pain."

Robidas had surgery Monday morning to move a cheek bone around inside his head.

Robidas was on the ice playing his normal game Tuesday evening when the Stars played the Chicago Blackhawks.

That's pretty tough ... most everyone else would be laid up on pain pills moaning and telling everyone around them how badly they hurt. Not Stephan ... we wouldn't have even known this had happened if sources on the team hadn't pointed it out (and of course the face mask he was required to wear during the game).

Bravo, Mr. Robidas ... we're proud to have you here!