Former Habs goalie opened up regarding his problems/angst
Everyone remembers Mike Condon, don't they? Condon played a savior role in the 2015-16 season, carving out a position with the team as an auxiliary as Carey Price picked up on the sidelines.
That year, Condon, now 31, was on the clock 55 times, posting a .903 save percentage and a 2.71 goals-against average. Quite exceptional under the circumstances, as this was his first campaign at the NHL level.
These achievements allowed him to sign a three-year, $7.2 million pact with the Senators, but after a decent first season with the Sens, his performances began to decline as his body could no longer keep up with his illness.
Since birth, Condon has suffered from a minor form of spina bifida (a malformation in the vertebrae that can cause motor problems). You know, that's something you might not know when judging an athlete's poor performance.
Condon's performance was dropping and his recipe for success was no longer working...
"My solution to most problems was to work harder. Sometimes less is more, you might say. But when you're in the thick of it and your formula throughout your career was 'push, push, push,' at some point, something breaks," said Condon.
It was a very difficult decision for Condon, who turned down a few offers last year to join a reserve team. He realized it was getting too painful to pursue, putting an inordinate amount of pressure on himself.
"I was frustrated at first. But then, as I kind of accepted it, I felt relieved. I felt really relieved. Because I didn't have to worry about performance anymore. I could finally focus and worry about myself and my health," added Condon.
As they say, there's nothing more important than health!
