Voros is where he wants to be

By MICHAEL RUSSO, Star Tribune

Last update: March 15, 2008 - 10:02 PM

Five years ago, a career in hockey, let alone the NHL, "was the furthest thing" from Aaron Voros' mind. A tumor half the size of a baseball had been discovered behind his left knee.

But Saturday night against the Los Angeles Kings, Voros, 26, a first-year NHLer, dressed in his 52nd game for the Wild.

"The biggest thing in my life was getting healthy and then working toward this goal," said Voros, drafted 229th overall by New Jersey in 2001. "I've been blessed and very lucky, and I'm thankful."

Because of how far he's come to reach his dream, the Minnesota chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers Association has nominated Voros for the Bill Masterton Trophy, awarded annually to the NHL player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey.

After his second game of his second year at Alaska-Fairbanks, Voros was diagnosed with a type of malignant bone cancer. It was later determined to be benign, but part of his femur was removed.

After six operations, Voros suffered complications, was bedridden for eight weeks with a tube inserted into his heart and lost 50 pounds.

"It took a lot of hard work from a lot of people, not just me," Voros said. "This is a testament to how much support I had."

Voros, who has seven goals and 14 points and leads the Wild with 137 penalty minutes and 14 fights, has been scratched in three of the past seven games. It shows he must always keep working.

"I hold my head high because I know I come to work every day," he said. "I know I don't take nights or shifts or practices off. I know down the stretch run and into the playoffs, they're going to need players like me. I'll just wait for my time to shine again."

"When I came, we had a lot of injuries, so I was getting a lot of opportunity. I always wondered once guys came back if I would be left in the fray because we've got a lot of talent."

Voros can become a Group 6, unrestricted free agent July 1.

"I have aspirations of being a lot better," he said. "I set a high standard for myself. I'm confident I'm going to be in this league for a while to come, and I hope I have a long career here for the Minnesota Wild.

"This is where I want to be. Obviously I want to be better, but I want to play and play here."

Etc.

• Instead of Voros, coach Jacques Lemaire said Derek Boogaard (back) nearly played for the first time since Jan. 22. Left winger Chris Simon was scratched.