Father of hockey coach Mike Babcock dies

The Detroit Red Wings dropped at 5-4 decision at the New York Islanders on Sunday.

But it was just a game.

Afterward, the Red Wings said Mike Babcock was coaching after the death of his father Mike Babcock Sr., 78, in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, on Saturday night.

Babcock, a former coach for the Spokane Chiefs, said his father had been sick with congestive heart failure and bad lungs.

“In the end, we were praying for him to join my mom and those prayers were answered,” Babcock said. “He’s in a better spot. Obviously anytime you lose a parent, it doesn’t matter how old you are, it’s a blow.”

Babcock will fly to Saskatoon on Wednesday.