Blues’ Jaden Schwartz has special motivation

A contingent of family members and friends has headed south to support Wilcox product Jaden Schwartz and his St. Louis Blues as they play for the Stanley Cup.

But Rick Schwartz says his son is motivated by the memory of someone who’s absent during the Blues’ Cup run. Jaden’s sister, Mandi, died in April of 2011 at the age of 23 after a battle with acute myeloid leukemia.

Rick Schwartz told The Green Zone’s Jamie Nye on Tuesday that Jaden is driven to win an NHL title for Mandi.

“That’s everything to him,” Rick said. “He can’t even explain it, but you know that’s on his mind. It’s tough to talk about. He doesn’t like to talk about it, but we know deep down inside, it’s going to be all about her.

“I’m just praying that that happens for him because that’s going to mean the world to him.”

The Blues and Boston Bruins are tied 2-2 in the best-of-seven Stanley Cup final. Game 5 is set for Thursday in Boston.

Jaden Schwartz, 26, has registered two assists over the first four games of the series. He’s tied with Ryan O’Reilly for the team lead this post-season with 18 points, which ties them for third in the NHL’s playoff scoring race.

Schwartz leads the Blues with 12 post-season goals, two fewer than league leader Logan Couture of the San Jose Sharks.

Schwartz is doing it all while wearing No. 17, the number Mandi wore during her days at Athol Murray College of Notre Dame and Yale University.

“He’s carrying that memory with him by having her number …,” Rick said. “He puts her initials on his stick all the time. We know he’s thinking of her and doing his best to honour her.”

Jaden Schwartz is one of three Saskatchewan-born players on the Blues’ roster, joining Regina’s Tyler Bozak and Saskatoon’s Brayden Schenn. For many, that has made the Blues something of a favourite in the trio’s home province.

“It just seems like it’s so personal, the province of Saskatchewan having three guys on the team in St. Louis and they have never (reached the final) in 49 years,” Rick said. “We’ve had such an up-and-down year, going from last place to where we are. It’s so exciting.”

The Blues have indeed been on a wild ride, rallying from last place in the NHL’s overall standings in January to reach the league’s final.

At this point, the team’s supporters can only sit back and enjoy the ride — even though it may be more tense for them than it is for the players.

“I think we are (more stressed than Jaden), absolutely,” Rick said with a chuckle. “When he’s with his teammates, they have to keep a level head; they keep everybody in check. We talk about it all the time among the friends and family, so we just get ourselves so wound up.

“We’re always talking about it and how cool it would be — ‘They’re getting so close to the Stanley Cup. Two games to go. Here we are’ — and what it’s going to feel like if we get that opportunity to see him raise that cup.”

And that, Rick said, is “surreal.” His son soon could have a chance to get his hands on pro hockey’s ultimate prize.

“I still don’t even believe it, honestly,” Rick admitted. “It’s so much fun and I’m so happy for Jaden. We’ve got so much family and friends that it’s just bringing everybody together; that’s the fun part about it.

“Everybody’s having such a great time and everybody’s so excited. We get so many calls and people coming down to watch the games and wanting to be a part of it. That’s the wonderful thing.

“Jaden knows that everybody is so excited and he appreciates everybody getting on the planes and coming down and spending time and knowing that they’re enjoying themselves on him.”

The Blues won Game 2 in Boston, so they have that in their back pocket as they head to Beantown for Game 5. A victory Thursday would give St. Louis an opportunity to hoist the cup at home on Sunday.

Mind you, a Bruins win Thursday would give them a chance to win it all on Sunday, too.

“We know the Stanley Cup will be in the building for Game 6,” Rick said. “I’m pretty nervous. I’m pumped … We know it’s close.

“It’s all you can think about, but at the same time, it’s really gut-wrenching thinking that, man, it’s one step closer.”