A classy response to a loss

[EDI-Flyer]

My respect level for Jarret Stoll has gone up based on his reaction to losing in the Western Conference Final last night.

"We wanted to keep playing," said center Jarret Stoll, who missed six of the Kings' seven games in the conference semifinals against the San Jose Sharks with an upper-body injury believed to be a concussion. "We wanted to play until the end of June; that was our goal. That was our mindset.We just didn't have it against these guys. They're a great team; wish them all the best. They've got a lot of great players and they play their system and they're well-coached. We just couldn't find a way to win a road game and I guess they pushed us back to L.A."

Getting within three wins of a trip to the Stanley Cup Final was no consolation to a team that felt it was capable of becoming the first team since the Detroit Red Wings in 1997 and '98 to win back-to-back championships.

"I was just disappointed," Stoll said. "You can't be happy with losing. You never are, whether it's the Western Conference Final or Stanley Cup Final or not even making the playoffs. It's that same empty feeling."

In spite of the fact that he must have been feeling gutted there was:

No attempt to blame the ref.

No "we were minus a key player" for the series

No "they were really lucky".

No "we didn't play very well"

Just a plain acknowledgement that they were beaten by a very good team and wishing them well. He might have lost last night but he is a winner in my eyes due to his attitude - that's the kind of example you want to see kids adopt in junior hockey. Other players (no names, no pack drill!) should take note.

[yave1964]

Congrats to the Kings on final four run the year after the cup win.

[AlaskaFlyerFan]

I believe this falls under the "Honesty is the best policy" category.

[ruxpin]

I really like the "we played well, they were just better. Good luck to them" answers. Agree with EDI, lots of respect for Stoll.

[jammer2]

There is no doubt, the Champs went out with class. They will always be in the mix with that roster, and strong upper management will always find a way to keep the Kings in the hunt.