While trainer-driver John Glen might not be a household name, his son David has certainly made headlines for what many are calling the young hockey player's most important assist.
Earlier this year, Glen, from Fort Saskatchewan, Alta., underwent a bone marrow donation procedure after learning he was a match through Be The Match, a National Marrow Donation Program.
The Penn State hockey team's assistant captain participated in the Be The Match-facilitated Match4Kim Drive, which was held in support of Penn State men's lacrosse player's Drew Roper's mother, in November 2012. Glen began the peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) donation process in January at Geisinger-Bloomsburg (Pa.) Hospital. Glen does not know the identity of who will receive the donation.
According to Be The Match, the five-day PBSC donation is a non-surgical procedure and is one of two methods of collecting blood-forming cells for bone marrow transplants. A 7-10 day timetable is typical for recovery for most PBSC donors and mild bone pain can result due to the excessive stem cell crowding within the bone marrow.
As a result of the procedure, the sophomore forward missed three games. His story was recently profiled by CBC's Hockey Night In Canada.
David is the son of John Glen, a longtime trainer-driver in Alberta as well as a scout for the WHL's Vancouver Giants.
(with files from Penn State)