Keane just wanted to play the game

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This article was published 10/02/2011 (5595 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

There’s an African proverb that says, “It takes a village to raise a child.” Mike Keane will tell you it’s the same with a hockey player.

Keane, who will have his No. 12 jersey retired by the AHL’s Manitoba Moose on Saturday night, ended his playing career last summer after 22 pro seasons including the last five with the Moose.

“In my experience, this starts off with your background and your parents and your family and then moves on to coaches and other people who support and guide and help you over the years,” said the 43-year-old Keane, who, along with his wife Tammy, is spending the first year of his retirement chasing children Jackson and Olivia around Winnipeg hockey rinks.

“My father coached me until I was nine and then I had great coaches in the Winnipeg minor system and other people including coaches and players and advisers moving on to junior and the NHL. I’m obviously proud and honoured but this isn’t about Mike Keane. I’m not having a tough time with this but without the support and advice I’ve gotten over the years, it wouldn’t have happened.”

The Moose will honour Keane beginning at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday night and details of the ceremony are being kept quiet. What’s known is there will be a video presentation, a special guest from Keane’s NHL days and finally the raising of his jersey to the rafters. This will be the first sweater retired in franchise history.

Keane has said very little publicly since his retirement but sat down with the Free Press on Wednesday morning to share some of his thoughts on retirement and this weekend’s ceremony.

— FP: If this isn’t about you, who is it about?

— MK: There’s a saying that the game is about the name on the front of the jersey and not the one on the back. For me, I got that at a young age. My parents taught me not to be selfish, to help my teammates and to do whatever it took to win the game. It went hand in hand for me. Some people didn’t get it, some people still don’t get it. But for me it was instilled in a young age. I played on good teams and we won. I played with good people that believed in the same things as me.

 

— FP: What’s it like not playing competitive hockey for the first time since you were a child?

— MK: I was talking to Nolan Baumgartner the other night and he had been in Wilkes-Barre for three nights. I don’t miss that. As any player says, I miss the competition, the guys in the room, the good times and the stories and tight bond with the players.

 

— FP: Are you adjusting?

— MK: I was lucky I got to play five years in Manitoba. I know a lot of guys that ended early. They were like lost souls. They knew they could play more but couldn’t find a job. They were left a little sour — with an empty feeling. For me, I think I maxed out. I miss the game, but I don’t, if that makes sense.

 

— FP: Are you looking forward to Saturday night?

— MK: I am. I’m proud and honoured but I don’t think I’m important enough to have this happen. I’m just a guy that wanted to play the game. Just a guy that wanted to play hockey.

 

— FP: Was playing in Winnipeg for the Moose fun?

— MK: The last five years, they were the funnest I ever had. My mom and dad came to every game. My kids made faces at me during warm-up every night. I got calls and emails and text from friends. Barbs that were fun some nights and not so fun after losses. But that’s what it’s supposed to be — a game that’s fun. I don’t think a lot of guys get to play in front of their hometown like I did.

 

— FP: What are you up to these days and what’s next?

— MK: The best advice I got from other players was to take a year off and kind of reset things and find out what you want to do. I’ve spent most of my time watching my kids. My son Jackson plays every day and my daughter Olivia starting playing again. I’ve really enjoyed watching them play. Last year I only saw Jackson play four times. I’m a full-time hockey mom. It’s given me a new respect for what my parents went through. I don’t do anything and there aren’t enough hours in the day. My mom and dad got home at five o’clock and practice was at six. My dad coached and my mom was convenor at Sir John Franklin. It was go, go, go.

 

— FP: Will anything about this weekend be bittersweet?

— MK: No, I have no regrets. I wanted to win a championship in Manitoba but that didn’t happen. I have been thinking over the last couple of days about who to thank. I have so many people to thank. I don’t think there is enough time to thank them all. So I’ll have to figure out how to do that in my own way.

gary.lawless@freepress.mb.ca