Page 15 - December 2015

and Buffalo, finding himself in the win column both times. But
then, Price suffered an injury during the October 29 game against
Edmonton and Mike Condon was now Montreal’s number one
netminder.
To play hockey for the Montreal Canadiens is to live in a fishbowl
where players are constantly recognized on the street and where the
media analyzes and dissects every move the players make. To step
between the goal pipes and become part of a tradition of excellence
that includes Jacques Plante, Ken Dryden, Patrick Roy, and Carey
Price is not only an honor and privilege but a situation not for the
faint of heart. Mike responded to his new role of starter with calm-
ness and an unflappable confidence, going 7-2-2 with a 2.23 goals
against average until Price was able to return to the lineup. He has
not only been solid on the ice, but has displayed an adept ability to
professionally answer questions from the media.
The Canadiens have a tradition in which the players’ fathers are in-
vited to fly with the team to an away game. That game took place in
Pittsburgh on November 11, and Sergeant Condon made the trip.
While it is written in every NHL player’s contract that his parents
will be flown to attend his first game, Ted had not seen Mike play
in a Canadiens uniform until the second week in November; Mike
wanted to focus solely on on-ice matters in the first weeks of his
NHL career.
Members of the Montreal media joined the players and dads on the
trip to Pittsburgh and during that trip Mike told them, “It will be
something new for my dad, just like it has been for me every day
since I started playing in the NHL. He’s never been out on the road
with me at any level, so I’m hoping we can pick up two points in
Pittsburgh. My dad was actually a major factor in my development
at every level. He financed my schooling, paid for my goalie pads,
and came to all the practices. He showed me what work ethic and
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determination can lead to. He taught me about giving everything
you’ve got in everything you do. He’s really been a source of inspi-
ration for me.”
No less ebullient, Ted said, “Even if you had dreamt this, you
wouldn’t have believed that this could happen. We’re just still
pinching ourselves. He’s playing for the greatest team in the world
– and winning. I just can’t believe it. We all worked for each oth-
er [to make this possible]. His [older] brother, Zach, helped, too.
It wasn’t easy, but that kind of helped him here mentally with the
grind of going to a very difficult prep school academically, and go-
ing to Princeton University, which was a very, very difficult place to
survive in. Then, the ECHL. We’re just very fortunate. Hard work
pays off. It doesn’t always happen like this.”
Looking only at the stats sheet, it would appear that all of the hard
work and sacrifices that Ted and his family made – getting Mike to
practice, purchasing expensive goalie gear, investing in education
– have paid off. Those who know Sergeant Ted Condon are aware
of his work ethic, tenacity, and sense of purpose. They also know
that much of what makes Ted the person he is cannot be found in
the wins/losses column or illustrated by a number with a decimal
point. Ted is exceptional because of his loyalty to his people and
unit, refusal to take sole credit for his successes, and his willingness
to shoulder the load when others cannot. Obviously Mike has in-
herited many of these characteristics and has not forgotten the help
that his family has given him along the way. Mike’s helmet shows
an image of MSP Troopers in formation – it is telling that he chose
to depict a line of officers standing together. Mike, just like his
father, is the consummate team player – one who realizes that the
team comes before the individual.
So while not every parent can hope to have a child who is an athlete
like Mike Condon, we can all hope to have a child like him: one
who believes in himself and is willing to do whatever it takes to ful-
fill his dreams and take any route to get there. And it’s people like
Ted who do whatever they can to give their kids the opportunities
and confidence they need to succeed in whatever they choose to
do.
On November 30, the Canadiens announced that Price had rein-
jured his knee and would be out a minimum of six weeks, once
again putting Mike in the hot seat. Montreal will be playing the
Bruins in the Winter Classic at Gillette Stadium on New Year’s Day.
The entire Massachusetts State Police family will be watching.
Material from http://canadiens.nhl.com was used in this article