Kevin Bieksa could have easily sat on the sidelines and nobody would have raised an eyebrow.
After his tireless efforts to remember the late Rick Rypien by becoming a mindcheck.ca website spokesman, bringing public awareness and support those struggling with mental health issues, the Vancouver Canucks defenceman could have continued to work out and await a resolution to the current NHL lockout.
Bieksa isn't wired that way. Taught to think of others first, Biek-sa went to Crowsnest Pass, Alta., on Aug. 15 to participate in a Goals and Dreams event and a Rypien charity game to mark the one-year passing of his troubled close friend, who would often confide in the bluelin-er he thought of as a brother.
Bieksa then convinced Rypien's mother, Shelley Crawford, to play in the Raise-It-4-Ryp charity golf tournament on Sept. 4 in Richmond before becoming the driving force behind the sold-out Biek-sa's Buddies charity game Wednesday at UBC.
As much as it gave 5,000 fans a glimpse...
