Shane Doan’s presence at John McCain memorial reflective of senator’s legacy

Shane Doan is set to be a pallbearer at U.S. Senator John McCain’s memorial service — a testament, indeed, to the politician’s admirable legacy.

When the news was made public that John McCain — military officer, United States Senator from Arizona and Republican nominee for President in the election of 2008 — had passed away on Saturday at the age of 81, the world united in mourning the loss of one of the last great signifiers of political decency. Say what you want about his politics, but make no mistake: the man was a fighter, and an admirable one at that.

As a Vietnam veteran (where he was a prisoner of war between October of 1967 and March of 1973), McCain was no stranger to dancing with death. Most memorable — and heroic, for the matter — in this regard was his refusal to accept an offer from the North Vietnamese for early release, as doing so would have reflected both a dismissal of the military code of conduct and an abandonment of his fellow POWs. Consequently, McCain endured five and a half years of brutal torture, the implications of which continued to impact his physical and mental health as he grappled with the fallout of wide-ranging trauma.

As a politician, McCain was nothing short of an incredibly driven individual. He served dutifully in the Senate from 1987 until his death, attempted to become the Republican Presidential nominee in 2000 (a campaign that he lost to Texas’ then-Governor, George W. Bush) and eventually earned the nomination in 2008, a campaign that ended in defeat at the hands of the Democrats’ nominee, Barack Obama.

What’s more, though, is the legacy that he leaves behind, one that is fundamentally predicated on the notion that problem-solving breeds solutions and solutions breed change. As Bernie Sanders — about as distant on the political spectrum from McCain as anyone in the U.S. Senate — wrote in a tribute to his late colleague: “John McCain was an American hero, a man of decency and honor and a friend of mine. He will be missed not just in the U.S. Senate but by all Americans who respect integrity and independence.”

To the dismay of many, the McCain-esque Republicans are a dying breed. Few politicians warrant nearly as much respect as the maverick himself, and it has become increasingly difficult to imagine an individual who could muster the same degree of admiration from across party lines.

Ex-NHLer Shane Doan (formerly of Halkirk, Alberta) knows this. The legendary captain of the Arizona Coyotes enjoyed a career that spanned 21 seasons, during which he accumulated 402 goals and 972 points in 1,540 games. His success ultimately caught the eye of McCain. As such, he is set to serve as a pallbearer at the senator’s memorial service.

In a statement, Doan gestured to the overarching significance of Arizona’s most prominent politician:

"Senator McCain was a shining example of what a modern leader should be. … He represented Arizona and the United States with class and dignity, and the courage and incredible strength that he demonstrated, in every test a man could face, impacted everyone who simply heard his story.His love for life was contagious and his passion for his family, state, country and Arizona sports teams left you optimistic and energized. I am so honoured to have been able to call Senator McCain my friend, and am grateful to his family for allowing my family to be a part of their lives. Our hearts go out to (his wife) Cindy and all the family during this difficult time."

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Indeed, if there is a constant that has underlined McCain’s career at the helm of not only U.S. politics, but also at the forefront of world relations on a much broader scale, it is that of a quality of respect. Duty, service and responsibility were the core principles of McCain’s most basic worldview. As Doan’s statement attests, a great champion of human decency — a man who opted to “reach across the aisle,” and in turn heroically reject efforts to sow the seeds of division — has breathed his last.

The hockey world mourns his loss.