Blackhawks excited about taking their dads along
It's going to be a special road trip for the Blackhawks this week to Phoenix and Colorado.
The players are taking their dads.
Other NHL teams have done it, but this is a first dads trip for the Hawks, and the players are excited - almost as much as their fathers.
"My dad flew in this morning and he's all excited," Patrick Sharp said Sunday. "He's got his bag packed and he's ready to rock."
Hawks president John McDonough and general manager Stan Bowman organized and backed the trip. For those dads who couldn't make it, players and coaches were invited to bring either a son or a mentor.
"I've seen other teams do it and it's been always something I wanted to do," Sharp said. "I don't know if it's giving back, but it's nice to include the fathers because they've done so much for us as players.
"I guess Stan and John were the ones who decided to do it, and we're thankful to them."
The dads will fly to Arizona on the team charter with their sons Tuesday morning and head straight to the golf course with their kids. There will be two father-son dinners, and the dads will attend the games against the Coyotes and the Avalanche.
"They're all going to have a rough week, so I hope they find their way to the games," Sharp joked.
This will be the second time Andrew Ladd gets to bring his dad on a road trip. He did it while a member of the Carolina Hurricanes and hasn't forgotten what a great time it was.
"It's pretty funny," Ladd said. "They're like a bunch of little kids getting to be around the team. It's great for them and it's fun for us to have them there and show them what's going on and what it's like to be on the road.
"My dad was asking last year if we were going to do one, so he's pumped for this. I'm sure all the other guys who are doing it for the first time are excited, too."
The dads had the option of rooming with their sons. The Kanes will be sharing a room as will the Ladds.
"I just hope he doesn't snore too loud," Ladd said.
Even the injured Hawks are on the trip, so Sharp will get roomie Adam Burish back for the next week.
"I'm going to stay with Burish, but dad's going to be right next door," Sharp said. "We're going to get some pranks going. My dad's got some good ideas. We're going to pick on Kane senior and (Jonathan) Toews, wreak some havoc in the hotel room. He and Mr. Burish are all excited for it, so the four of us are going to go terrorize the room."
Hawks coach Joel Quenneville had a dads road trip with the Avalanche and thought it was great time for everyone.
"It was a lot of fun and a great experience," Quenneville said. "Everyone is going to have fun with it.
"It's a proud moment for (the fathers) and an exciting moment. It's almost like being a kid again for them, and for the guys it's a lot of motivation both ways. It's a special time."