Marty Turco, Stars restore Niskanen’s car for fallen colleague

In between writing children's books  and, oh yeah, trying to win a Stanley Cup, Marty Turco somehow found some time to fit a little car restoration into his schedule.

And now, the end result may dry a few tears on the face of a two-year-old girl.

With Turco acting as ringleader, the Stars took the had-seen-better-days ride that was defenseman Matt Niskanen's 2001 Pontiac Sunfire — wheels he has owned since he was 15 — and helped give it a $12,000 facelift.

Niskanen's car will now be put up for grabs in an online auction, with proceeds going to the family of Matt McKee, the Stars' Director of Ticket Operations who passed away suddenly earlier this year from cardiac-related causes. McKee, who was just 33, left behind his wife and two-year-old daughter.

Even as the Stars battle the Detroit Red Wings as their Stanley Cup push continues, it's obvious the entire organization still gets it, which may help explain why they have bucked the odds and knocked off both the Anaheim Ducks and San Jose Sharks in these playoffs.

Matt McKee never scored a goal, never played on a wonky ankle, never dropped down in front of a slapshot to take one for the team.

But he was one of them.

That is why you'll see the Stars' players with ‘MM' emblazoned on their helmets, the Matt McKee Family Trust the team set up, the moment of silence after he passed away so suddenly.

It is obvious the Dallas Stars' team extends much further than the 20 guys that sit on the bench.

Matt McKee touched a lot of people with the Stars, probably more for the courage he showed in a heroic battle with cancer than for anything he ever did in the ticket office.

There is a two-year-old girl in Dallas who is going to grow up without a Daddy. That in itself, as it is with anyone, is enough to tear at the heartstrings.

The Dallas Stars are doing what they can to help soften that blow.

And that, no matter what happens the rest of this memorable spring, still makes them winners.