Islanders head coach Barry Trotz returned to practice on Saturday morning, back in ice skates with a stick in hand in what was a welcomed return to normalcy after his mother Iris passed away on Jan. 1 at the age of 78.
"It's very meaningful for a couple reasons," Trotz said of his return to the team. "The way the organization reacted to me wanting to go home and take the necessary time, and the players reaching out. Just watching them today, the effort and the work ethic they've put in, it's not easy with a 10-day break. They've done a really good job."
Trotz has been away from the team since New Year's Day, when it was announced that he would not be behind the bench for New York's game against the Oilers due to personal reasons. He confirmed on Saturday that it was due to his mother's passing.
"This is the first time I've lost a parent, so it's very difficult," Trotz said. "I have a better understanding when it happens to someone else and I just want to thank everybody who's reached out, not only in the Islanders' organizations, fans, what have you, who reached out, it's very heartwarming and comforting to me.
"Everybody loves their mom. I loved my mom. There's certain things I look back on that she did over the years, and molded me and my sister just like my dad did. any success we've had as a family, I've had personally, or my sister has, it's from our parents."
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