Mike Tallman '90

Mike Tallman '90, a star in hockey and golf at Ithaca High School in the '80s, a member of the Cornell hockey team in the late '80s, and one of the real "good guys" that have been part of the hockey program, has had a truly tragic accident.

As I have heard it, Mike was playing a pickup hockey game last week in New Jersey, lost an edge and took a bad tumble into the boards. Mike is now paralyzed from the waist down.

Mike is currently at the Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation in West Orange, New Jersey. The address is 1199 Pleasant Valley Way, West Orange, NJ 07052, Room 123 Bed 1. [www.kessler-rehab.com]

His family and friends have been travelling to be with him and his wife and two young children, to help keep his spirits up. Some ex-teammates living in the US and Canada have also flown in. As a New Jersey resident, Mike is a Devils fan (rooting for ex-teammate Joe Nieuwendyk), and his family made special arrangements to make sure the Stanley Cup playoff games are available in his room. A request has been made to ESPN to send best wishes to Mike and his family on the air, possibly during one of the Devils games, although I am not sure about the status.

I am sure Mike and his family would appreciate any show of support from the Cornell hockey community. Growing up in Ithaca, Mike was a big fan of Cornell hockey and realized his dream of playing for the hometown team. He was one of those guys who left it all on the ice, every night, and made his most significant contribution as a checking center during his sophomore year in '87-'88, helping fill the talent gap as the program bounced back from missing the playoffs from the year before. He also gave back to his community and served as a hockey coach at various levels in Ithaca.

Just felt like I had to post in order to move this really sad story about one of our own guys up to the top again.
I remember Mike Tallman playing for Cornell and I also remember feeling good that a local guy played for the Red. A lot of good Ithaca high school kids those days chose not to play for Cornell, and some, the Armstrongs in particular (terrific players - Clarkson and Harvard) seemed to be almost anti Big Red in their comments. I kind of understood that feeling coming from a local kid but I really didn't like it much.
I wish Mike all the best and hope and pray something good happens here. If anyone gets any news, please let us know.
Thanks for your post CULater.

Thanks for your note RedFan. I think it's important for the Cornell community to support its own, much as BU did when Travis Roy was paralyzed a number of years ago. Given the numerous notes of support for Exter on this site and USCHO.com earlier this year, I would hope that enough people post here that a copy can be sent to the Tallman family, or that at least a few of the Faithful reach out to Mike and his family directly.

Bump

Bump II 1/2



Post Edited (05-09-03 17:43)

Below is an email from CHA:

Coach Mike Schafer has asked that we share the following letter with members of the Cornell Hockey Association regarding former Big Red player Mike Tallman '90.

Please direct any questions to the folks listed below, or to Sue Detzer in the hockey office.



Dear Friends, May 7, 2003

As many of you know, Mike Tallman sustained a serious spinal cord injury playing in a pick up hockey game on April 24th. The injury, while not life threatening, has caused Mike to experience paralysis below his waist. The prognosis is currently unknown, but indications are that Mike will need the use of a wheelchair for the foreseeable future. Mike is now at the Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation in West Orange, New Jersey.

As you know, Mike is one of the toughest and most determined individuals you will ever meet. Rest assured, Mike will meet this most difficult challenge with the same fierce determination he has brought to all of his past endeavors. Because of this, we know Mike will succeed.

Mike and his family, including his wife, Kristen, and daughter, Brodie, have remained incredibly strong during this difficult period and have been touched by the outpouring of support from so many individuals.

Many of you have offered to make donations to Mike and his family to ensure that Mike can devote full attention to his rehabilitation. To that end, we have established an account in Mike's name. If you would like to make a donation, kindly make your check payable to the "Tallman Family Fund", and mail the check to:


Tallman Family Fund
C/O Kim Jones
3079 Scioto Trace
Columbus, Ohio 43221


All proceeds donated to the Tallman Family Fund will be used at the family’s discretion to cover necessary expenses such as: rehabilitation, wheelchair, home renovations, vehicle, etc. These expenses are both imminent and immediate so we are trying to move quickly to help Mike and his family. We have spoken with representatives from Kessler to get more information about Mike’s situation and have learned that the financial burden can be staggering.

We thank you for your support. If you have any additional questions or wish further information, please feel free to contact one of us from the list below, or send an email to Casey Jones’ wife, Kim Jones, at tallmanfund@aol.com.


Thank You

Casey Jones (614-565-5144) Mark Berutich (516-873-6440)
Neil Paterson (617-965-0508) Russ Johnson (607-277-6595)
Paul Whintors (604-882-7585) Doug Addy (607-277-0886)

Thanks for the information, RedFan2. We have also thought that sending something for his daughter (with another on the way) would be nice, for when she visits him while he works on his rehab.

There was an article about Mike posted on USCHO.com yesterday, [www.uscho.com]