The man behind the Mac behind the mask

When you’ve had your car torched because someone doesn’t like the color of your skin, you can deal with the occasional “Who the %$@# is Sudarshan Maharaj and what qualifies him to coach Rick DiPietro and Joey MacDonald?"

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Joey MacDonald has started to receive warranted acclaim for stabilizing what could've been a disastrous situation with Rick DiPietro on the shelf. Given his resume, I was lukewarm to his promotion from the AHL by virtue of an existing one-way deal over the summer (fan hero Wade Dubielewicz was allowed to walk), but the former Red Wing and Bruin property has impressed.

MacDonald has given much of the credit to goalie coach "Sudsie" Maharaj, who did extensive work with him over the summer. Over the years, whenever Maharaj's name would come up -- Mike Dunham is the other goalie coach -- during prospect evaluations and other random goalkeeping comments, I'd wondered just who was this "Sudsie," and what's his story?

At last, Chris Botta steps up with a terrific profile of the man from Trinidad. It's a globe-spanning story that would likely interest any hockey fan.