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Craig Anderson takes leave from Senators to join wife in cancer battle

Josh Cooper
OTTAWA, ON - NOVEMBER 01: Ottawa Senators Goalie Craig Anderson (41) being introduced prior to a game between the Hurricanes and Senators on November 1, 2016, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON. (Photo by Jay Kopinski/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Ottawa Senators Goalie Craig Anderson being introduced prior to a game between the Hurricanes and Senators on November 1, 2016, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON. (Getty Images)

Ottawa Senators goaltender Craig Anderson has been granted another leave of absence to spend time with his wife Nicholle as she battles cancer.

According to the Ottawa Citizen, Anderson “is being given whatever time he needs to be with his wife Nicholle, who has been diagnosed with cancer and is undergoing tests to learn the extent plus a treatment schedule.”

Last week, Anderson left the team to be with Nicholle, but then returned at her urging after backup goaltender Andrew Hammond was placed on injured reserve. Anderson then turned aside 37 shots on goal Sunday in a 2-0 road win over the Edmonton Oilers.

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“Nicholle was the one who wanted Craig to come back. She was the one who said, ‘Craig, your teammates need you right now.’ We made this decision after consulting with Craig and Nicholle, their doctors, and we all felt because of this time frame it was all right for him to rejoin the team,” general manager Pierre Dorion said when he announced Nicholle’s cancer diagnosis.

After the game, Anderson was mobbed by his teammates in an emotional scene.

Oilers goaltender Cam Talbot also gave his support to Anderson afterwards.

“It really hit us approaching him on the ice because he broke down out there,” said defenseman Marc Methot. “I can only imagine what’s running through his head. The way he came out and performed that’s a pretty brave thing do.”

Anderson also stopped 32 of 33 shots on goal in a Tuesday overtime win over the Carolina Hurricanes.

The Ottawa Citizen recently gave a closer look into Anderson’s family life with his wife, and the reaction around the hockey world after the shutout.

The last few years, cancer has hit the Senators hard. In April of 2015, assistant coach Mark Reeds died after a battle with cancer. In November, 2014 former general manager Bryan Murray revealed he had Stage 4 colon cancer. Murray stepped down from the GM position last offseason.

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Josh Cooper is an editor for Puck Daddy on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at puckdaddyblog@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!

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