Brendan Gallagher is inspired by his mother’s battle with brain cancer

Sadly, we recently learned that Brendan Gallagher’s mother is battling brain cancer, specifically glioblastoma, a highly unpredictable tumour.

She has been battling this cancer for over two years now. She is showing great competitiveness and courage to beat glioblastoma, which rarely gives more than 18 months’ life expectancy following diagnosis.

Brendan Gallagher has always been a hard worker who never stops fighting. It has to be said that he inherited this from his mother, but he also draws a great deal of inspiration from her.

And there’s plenty to be inspired by in his case, if this text from Eric Engels, who spoke with Gallagher following Wednesday morning’s training session, is anything to go by.

Nearly 31 months after being diagnosed with brain cancer, Brendan Gallagher’s mother, Della, is punching back as hard as she ever has.

And through her courageous fight, she’s inspiring Brendan in unprecedented ways(@EricEngels) https://t.co/1eqS7qB8aA

– Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) March 13, 2024

“It’s very inspiring to see… The fighting spirit she has in her is pretty special.” – Brendan Gallagher

I highly recommend you go and read Engels’ interview with #11, which you can access right here, by the way.

It’s well worth your time.

Among other things, we learn that Della Gallagher, Brendan’s mother, was diagnosed a few weeks after her son’s appearance in the Stanley Cup Final in 2021.

Obviously, this must have had a direct impact on Gallagher’s daily life, both on and off the ice.

It seems that Gally’s regression isn’t just related to his physical condition, as he hasn’t been very gentle with his body throughout his career. His mother’s situation must affect him far more than his physical form.

It must be extremely difficult to play with a situation like that.

At times like these, it’s important to be able to count on someone.

Fortunately for Gallagher, he can count on his fiancée, Emma, with whom he lives. But there’s also his head coach, Martin St-Louis, who has always been there for him. St-Louis lost his mother to cancer in 2014 and doesn’t hesitate to check up on Gally .

Let’s just say I’m not too worried about Gallagher, but also about his whole family, because they’re all warriors, especially his mother, and they’re all very well looked after.

In bursts

– Patrice Bergeron had kind words for Nick Suzuki.

While on Le Retour des sportifs, Patrice Bergeron praised Nick Suzuki’s work.

Full interview here: https://t.co/L7SL1jA0OY#nicksuzuki #canadiens #habs #montreal #lnh #patricebergeron pic.twitter.com/8kpdzZKd8u

– BPM Sports (@BPMSportsRadio) March 13, 2024

– A nice interview between Cayden Primeau and Marc-André Perreault.

Primeau’s typo. The @MA_PerreaultTVA columnhttps://t.co/WMMVNgCc51

– TVA Sports (@TVASports) March 13, 2024

– Marchessault is on fire this season.

Most goals in a season from a Quebecois in the cap era:

52 – Vincent Lecavalier
47 – Simon Gagne
43 – Martin St. Louis
41 – Simon Gagne
40 – Vincent Lecavalier
37 – Jonathan Marchessault (this season in 65gms)

Marchessault is building a crazy resume later in his career. pic.twitter.com/EcYFtjjkDp

– Big Head Hockey (@BigHeadHcky) March 13, 2024

– Jean Trudel would give Xhekaj a big contract.

Arber Xhekaj is an RFA at the end of this season, does he deserve a big contract as suggested by @Jean_JT_Trudel? pic.twitter.com/zYVXcndUXN

– HFTV (@HFTVSports) March 13, 2024

– Congratulations to the undrafted Quebecer.

Antonin Verreault becomes the first @QMJHL player to points #CHLStats pic.twitter.com/cuv0Zob91A