Matt Man's legacy lingers

By John Vogl NEWS SPORTS REPORTER
Updated: 10/11/07 6:47 AM

Matt Schoals has served as an inspiration to Ryan Miller and to
people who knew Schoals and his story. It's clear death will not stop
that.

Miller was detailing this week's passing of his young cousin, grief
and shock audible in his voice. But when talk turned to the mask of
the Buffalo Sabres goaltender — the mask that Schoals helped design
and serves as a constant reminder that there's more to life than
hockey games — Miller's mood brightened. He laughed while recounting
how the caricature of a bulldog came about, a sign that Schoals'
inspirational effect will not soon fade.

"He left a great legacy, and it's only fair to talk about him and
talk about the positive impact he had on the community," Miller said
Wednesday.

"He left the world, but he left having done great things."

Schoals, Miller's cousin who came into the spotlight two seasons ago
after being diagnosed with leukemia, died Monday just one month after
turning 18. The teenager had beaten leukemia and become cancer-free,
but a recent bone marrow procedure led to graft-versus-host disease.
Immune cells in the transplanted marrow began attacking Schoals'
body, and his health deteriorated. His lungs soon gave out.

"For a while we were holding out hope that they would find a way to
treat it," Miller said. "In the last few days they determined he
couldn't recover.

"It's something that's been on all of our minds the last few weeks.
It's definitely something where we've been waiting for updates, and
last week tests showed his lung capacity had been severely impacted.
It escalated quickly."

Hundreds of people gathered for a candlelight vigil Monday at DeWitt
(Mich.) High School, which Schoals had attended. It was where the
former football player and wrestler was best known, but it was far
from the only place. Schoals became familiar to hockey fans in
Western New York and cities throughout the NHL because of Miller's
mask.

The back of Miller's headwear has the phrase "Matt Man" at the
bottom, just underneath a bulldog clad in a Michigan State Spartans
uniform. Miller, 9 years older than Schoals, dubbed his cousin "Matt
Man" when Schoals was a newborn, and Schoals' ideal pet was a
miniature bulldog.

Schoals was diagnosed with leukemia in December 2005, and Miller had
the mask made to serve as a reminder of his cousin's struggles and
toughness.

"He'll remain there," said Miller, who will be in uniform tonight
when the Sabres host the Atlanta Thrashers. "He really did inspire
me. He was such a young person, and he met every challenge. He did
everything he was asked to do with complete faith."

Miller received word Schoals' illness had become terminal while
heading for the airport after Saturday night's game on Long Island.
He got in his car after landing in Buffalo and drove straight to
Michigan.

"It was in my mind getting to say I love him," Miller said.

The goaltender spent Sunday with the family, and he'll return to
Michigan this Sunday. They are having a memorial and celebration of
Schoals' life.

"I'm glad he's not suffering," Miller said. "There's some great
memories. We talked about him so we could help inspire other
people. "I know he's in a better place."