Just try not to get inspired by the sight of Neil Doef, 4½ months removed from his spinal cord injury, sitting up on the coach with his mother and father, Bobbi-Jean and Bruce.
The former star of the Junior A Smiths Falls (Ont.) Bears and Princeton University hockey recruit is continuing to make progress after the medical catastrophe that befell him when he was checked into the boards on Dec. 14 while playing in the World Junior A Challenge. As it turns out, in two months' time Doef, who is "able to accomplish limited assisted walking," will participate in the Pan-Am Games torch relay.