When the Detroit Red Wings headed to the Southeast division to face Atlanta, Florida, and Tampa Bay, the players’ dads or mentors came with them. The coaching and support staff was also allowed to invite a father, male family member, or mentor. They were also able to attend Monday’s game against Pittsburgh before leaving on the southeast trip. Wings owner Mike Ilitch paid for this special trip.
Team players, coaches, and support staff had the opportunity to show what they do on a daily basis with those who helped them make it into the NHL whether it was on the ice or within an organization. These guests were allowed to go everywhere the players did, except out on the ice, whether it was going on a red-eye flight, attending a strategy meeting, getting to the rink early for a pregame skate, or checking into a hotel early in the morning.
On Tuesday, a “Hockey Night in Canada” crew came to talk with players and fathers while taping multiple interviews for its Hockey Day family themed telecast in January.
For head coach Mike Babcock, it was an opportunity to get to learn something about the player from a father or mentor that he wouldn’t have known otherwise.
“I had a talk with Steve Yzerman’s dad,” Babcock said. “He walked me through moving from Western Canada to Ottawa. He walked me through minor hockey for Steve, him going to Peterborough and him getting drafted by the Red Wings. And the first (Stanley) Cup. How do you get that? Steve ain’t going to tell me that. It was phenomenal for me to listen to that.”
Babcock has also enjoyed the time spent with his own father who was able to see what it’s like as a coach of an original six teem and what a typical week is like as head coach. While Babcock does spend his summers with his dad, he doesn’t have much time for one-on-one talks.
“I have a young family and there’s people humming around,” he said. “We’re at the lake in the summer. I’m driving the boat or racing somewhere with my kids. You might have a beer for five minutes, but you’re not spending time like this.”
His dad, Mike Sr., thoroughly enjoyed his experience saying that it was unbelievable. “Just being able to be around your son and watch him work, I think, is worth its weight in gold,” he said. Center Kris Draper’s father, Mike Draper, was warned about life as a professional hockey player.
“It’s a real strenuous schedule when you’re playing three games on the road,” said Mike Draper. “I was told by Kris before I came down, ‘This is the way it is.’ They have a job to do. They have timelines, they have to be on the ice at a certain time or at the airport after the game.”"I was told to come back with seven out of eight points,” Mike Draper said. “That’s not attainable right now, but a big win against a great Tampa Bay team would, I’m sure, make this trip a huge success.”
Sammy Schneider, Mathieu Schneider’s dad, was skeptical of the trip at first. “How’s this going to work, being in locker rooms and everything,” Sammy Schneider said he wondered. “I don’t know if I belong there. But it’s really worked out well. Of course, if you win some games, that’s frosting on the cake.”
Chris Chelios’ dad was unable to attend the game because of his diabetes. For that reason, Chelios had his son Jake come on the trip. Jake plays hockey on the same team as the Wings assistant general manager’s son, Trevor. Jake was able to participate in some pregame skates according to Fox Sports Net during an intermission in tonight’s game.
Rookie Jimmy Howard was excited before starting in goal when the Wings took on the Atlanta Thrashers. It was the first time his dad, Jim Howard, was able to watch Jimmy play in the NHL from the stands.
“This is a dream come true, to be with organization and travel with him for a week and see what he goes through,” Jim Howard said. “He’s worked hard all his life, been at the right place at the right time at times, and all the hard work has paid off.”Said Jimmy Howard of having his father in the arena: “It’s just something special. We’ll remember it. He’s excited, and I’m happy we could do this for him.”
