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Tuesday, November 16, 1999
Dineen revisits painful memories
Kevin Dineen is looking forward to tomorrow night's game against the Carolina Hurricanes with mixed emotions.
The Senators left winger is anxious to see his former teammates, but realizes the return to Carolina may stir up some difficult memories.
Dineen was a teammate and close friend of Steve Chiasson, who was killed in a single-car accident last May. What many might not know is Dineen was one of the first at the scene of the accident and had the difficult task of identifying the body.
"It was a very difficult experience," said a sombre Dineen. "It will be a weird feeling to go back."
Dineen was not just Chiasson's teammate, he was his close friend. In fact, he was the last to speak to Chiasson the night of his death.
"We had spent the last 45 minutes talking about the direction of his career, his shoulder surgery and how well he recovered," said Dineen. "The last thing he said was, 'I'm ready to go home to the wife and kids.' "
'IMPAIRED CHOICE'
Rather than wait for a ride from Ron Francis, who lived three doors down, or share a cab with Dineen, Chiasson chose to get in his pickup truck and drive despite having been drinking at a party held at Gary Roberts house.
"Basically it came down to his judgment," said Dineen. "It was an impaired choice and I hope everyone learns from it."
Dineen gave eulogies at a service in Carolina and the funeral in Peterborough.
"It was the hardest thing I had to do," said Dineen in a soft voice. "It's tough to sum up and catch the spirit of the individual. I'm very glad I could help."
Dineen admits being greatly impressed by the number of players from the NHL who made the time to go to the funeral.
"It made me extremely proud to be part of the NHL."
Dineen's support didn't end with the funeral. He and his wife Ann remain in close contact with Chiasson's wife Susan and three young children.
Ann just returned from a Florida vacation with a number of hockey wives and children, including Chiasson's own young family.
"We made a commitment to Sue and the kids," added Dineen. "Being closer to Peterborough made coming here a lot easier.
"We stay in touch with them a lot. I see so much of him in his boys and I know how concerned Sue is about the kids."
Dineen admits his friend's death has had a large impact on his own life.
"The first month was really hard. We had a lot of similar interests" he said. "But it's made my wife and I realize the importance of having one another."
WORK BREAK: Dineen, Rob Zamuner, Joe Juneau and Chris Phillips did not take part in yesterday's practice. Coach Jacques Martin said the four needed the day to rest some minor injuries, but he expects all four to be in tomorrow's lineup.
BACK ON ICE?: Daniel Alfredsson hopes to get doctors' clearance on Thursday to skate for the first time since tearing the MCL in his right knee October 21.
GRUDEN STAYING PUT: Despite the absence of Sami Salo and Igor Kravchuk on the Senators blue line, Martin doesn't intend to recall D John Gruden anytime soon. Martin says he was impressed with the play of Karel Rachunek, while Grant Ledyard continues to practise with the team.
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