Dean Spiros: Sometimes you need all the family you can get

Warroad junior forward Micky Knox was proud of the two assists he picked up on Wednesday at Xcel Energy Center in the Warriors' 4-0 victory over Litchfield/Dassel-Cokato in the quarterfinals of the Class 1A boys' hockey state high school tournament.

Almost as proud as he felt when he picked up his helmet. There, he pointed out outside the postgame locker room, were the two decals the Warriors have added to the back of their helmets; one to honor Micky's uncle Greg, the other to honor his 7-year-old cousin Wade.

Greg Knox, 37, a former Warroad player, passed away 12 days ago from a staph infection in Abilene, Texas. Nine months ago, Knox's son Wade died in an ATV accident while the family was in Warroad for the high school graduation of Micky's sister Jessica.

"In no way should one family have to have two names on the helmet," said Matt Knox, Micky's dad. "But here we are."

"I didn't think it could be possible," Micky said.

Sometimes the same can be said for trying to get back to living a "normal life" after taking two such devastating hits. It's rarely possible without the help of family, be it biological or of another form.

"The support of Micky's teammates has been a big thing," Matt Knox said. "They did the same thing last spring [after Wade's death]. A bunch of them showed up at his door a couple days after and got him back to the weight room. That's a nice thing to have."

The Knox family has been equally appreciative of the support supplied by co-coaches Albert Hasbargen and Bruce Olson and the Warroad administration.

"When you're in athletics it's like another family," Warroad athletic director Steve Bengtson said. "There is a lot of support from those people, and a lot of the healing process has to come from his teammates."

Micky flew to Texas in mid-February to visit his uncle in the hospital after his sudden illness, only to have to return a few days later for his funeral.

Greg Knox died on Feb. 23, the day Warroad defeated Thief River Falls in the Class 1A, Section 8 semifinals.

"Hockey gets my mind off of it," Micky said. "[Greg] played hockey, so it makes me want to play better. I really looked up to him. He was a good guy."

Greg Knox was a member of the 1987 Warroad team that reached the state tournament.

"Greg was a tough kid," former Warroad coach Tom King said. "It was like nothing could hurt him. He was an iron man."

His brother Matt said Greg attended the state tournament last season and surely would have been here this year to support the Warriors.

"It's been a miserable time," Matt Knox said, "but the hockey is something that gets us out of it. I just got back from Texas [on Tuesday] and the hockey picks you up, gives you something to smile about."

Temporarily.

"Hockey is a way of life in Warroad," Matt Knox said. "But it is not life."

Back in Texas, Stephanie Knox listened to the game on the Internet, her heart with her nephew.

"Wade had red hair just like me," Micky said. "Seeing me, she's reminded of her son."

Dean Spiros • dspiros@startribune.com