December
11, 2004
Sigalet: I Have MS
By
Mike Eidelbes
 |
| Sigalet
was a first team All-CCHA selection in 2003-04. |
Bowling Green
senior Jordan Sigalet, one of the nation’s top goaltenders,
announced Saturday that he has multiple sclerosis.
"After discussing
this with my family and giving it much thought, I have decided
it is time to make public that I suffer from multiple sclerosis,"
Sigalet said in a prepared statement. "By doing this I hope
to somehow help others that have this disease and possibly learn
more myself. The support from my family, teammates, and coaches
over the past nine months has been awesome. I can't thank them
enough."
The Surrey,
B.C., native and the 2003-04 All-CCHA first team goaltender was
diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in March. Sigalet has missed
three games due to complications from MS – the Falcons’
last game of the 2003-04 regular season at Western Michigan and
home contests this month against Michigan State (Dec. 4) and Michigan
(Dec. 11).
| What
is MS? |
| According
to WebMD, multiple sclerosis affects about 400,000
Americans. At least one professional athlete –
former major league relief pitcher Stan Belinda – competed
after learning he had MS | More
from WebMD |
"MS is
an inflammatory disease of the central nervous system that can
affect the brain and the spinal cord," said Bowling Green
team physician Dr. Tom Wojciechowski, who has been involved in
Sigalet’s treatment since he learned he had the disease.
"Symptoms include numbness involving the body, as well as
effects on one's vision, muscles and reflexes."
Sigalet, who was chosen
by the Boston Bruins in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft, has been a workhorse
in goal for the Falcons. The nation’s leader in saves last
season (1,140 in 37 starts), he’s Bowling Green’s
career leader in save percentage (currently at .915) and ranks
second in career goals against average (3.00). This year, Sigalet
is 8-4-2 with a 2.89 GAA and a .916 save percentage as BGSU is
off to its best start in nine seasons. His brother, Jonathon,
is a sophomore defenseman for the Falcons.
"What Jordan has
exhibited over the past nine months, both physically and mentally,
is nothing short of extraordinary," said Bowling Green coach
Scott Paluch. "His ability to deal with his disease and perform
at the high level he has is unbelievable."
Sigalet is
scheduled to meet with the media at a Monday afternoon press conference.
The Falcons, who were swept by Michigan in a home-and-home series
this weekend, are idle until Dec. 29-30 when they travel to Hanover,
N.H., to take part in the Ledyard Bank Classic.
