For the Messiers, like father, like son

After a 25-year NHL career, the six-time champion watches his son Lyon play for the Texas Tornado and helps charities.
By JOHN KOVACH
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
BOARDMAN -- What does a former National Hockey League star and one of the all-time great players do after retiring from a 25-year career at the top rung of his sport?
Well, in Mark Messier's case, he is taking it easy, doing a lot of charity work and following his son around the country to watch him do what he used to do -- play hockey.
Messier, a member of six Stanley Cup championship teams and a former teammate of Wayne Gretzky, was at the Ice Zone Thursday to watch his 18-year-old son, Lyon, play for the Texas Tornado against the Cleveland Barons.
Lyon, who lives with his mother in Frisco, Tex., helped Texas to a 5-3 win in a loser's bracket game that advanced the Tornado to today's semifinal round of the Robertson Cup Tournament.
"I have two young kids [boy and girl]," said the former Edmonton Oiler, New York Ranger and Vancouver Canuck. "I'm having a good time with them.
"I'm doing a lot of charity work and relaxing," said Messier, who is the second all-time leading scorer in NHL history with 1,887 points (694 goals and 1,193 assists).
He helped the Oilers win five Stanley Cup championships -- four of them with Gretzky as a teammate -- and the New York Rangers to win one title.
Does charity work
Messier, who lives in New York, said his main career interest now is charity work. He said he has been involved with Tomorrow's Children's Fund since 1991. The charity helps children with terminal cancer.
"I'm with a lot of different charities," said Messier, who played in the NHL from 1979-2004, and has been retired for almost two years after deciding not to return to the game after the NHL strike.
Born in Edmonton, Alberta, and a Canadian citizen, Messier said that he still is friends with Gretzky and his other NHL teammates.
"Every time we get together, it's a form of a reunion," Messier said.
Lyon's talent and career
Regarding Lyon's hockey talent, Messier said he doesn't know if he and Lyon share similar playing characteristics.
"It's hard to tell at this young age. Kids are still developing their styles and skills," Messier said.
He said Lyon, who already has graduated from high school, is hoping for some offers this year.
"He is concentrating on this [season] to see what offers come in," Messier said.
"He is looking to play major junior hockey which is the Canadian version of the highest level of junior hockey," said Messier, who greeted fans at the Ice Zone and signed autographs.
Price family gets autographs
Three fans who were happy to greet him and get his autograph were Stephen Price of Poland and his two sons, Tallon, 5, and Spencer, 7.
"I loved the Oilers [and Messier] back in the 1980s," said Stephen, who is serving as a host family -- or billet family as it is called in hockey -- for two Mahoning Valley Phantoms' players (Dennis Urban and Doug Leaverton).
Stephen, in his first year as a billet, said he comes from a hockey family.
"My dad played hockey," said Stephen, noting that his father, Jack, who also lives in Poland, played for the Chicago Blackhawks.
Stephen said his sons play youth hockey.
"They live hockey 24 hours a day," said Stephen, who didn't play hockey when he was younger -- but for a reason.
"There was [no hockey] around here then," he pointed out.
He's happy now that's not the case anymore.
kovach@vindy.com