NHL playoffs: Flyers’ Wayne Simmonds leaves doubters behind

“He was so good at pushing away that negativity, not listening to people, and just doing what he felt was right. ... It goes to show there’s no right way to get there. So many people were telling him he couldn’t make it. There was no support. Nobody’s on your side.”

Well, not exactly nobody. Navigating his way through his third trip to the Stanley Cup playoffs, Simmonds took time this week to reminisce about the community of friends who supported him from his earliest beginnings as a would-be pro. He was quick to praise his parents for all they’ve done.

He loves the sport so much he spends part of his summer playing with old friends in Toronto’s York Central Ball Hockey League. Simmonds is a defenceman for the Arcturus Realty Stars, an NHL millionaire firing one-timers among the contractors and financial planners and masons. Nobody ever figured he’d play in that league, either.

“It’s all the guys I went to high school with, guys I played hockey with growing up,” he said. “We have such a close group of guys. We’re like family. I’m lucky to have so many great friends.”