The Blackhawks players' mothers will join the team on jaunt to Florida as it faces Lightning and Panthers. Story with videos.
The Chicago Blackhawks will take their mothers along when they travel to Tampa to face the Lightning on Thursday and continue to Sunrise, Florida for a rematch with the Panthers on Sunday.
Connor Bedard said his mom, Melanie, is "super-pumped" to join the team for the team's fling. The 18-year-old rookie is happy to have his mom around too. She arrived in Chicago on Monday. See video.
"I'm excited to spend time with her and have her on the trip and kind of experience the stuff we do," Bedard said after Tuesday's practice. "I think they've got some stuff planned for them during our game days or whatever, so you know they'll have a good time."
What's Cookin'?
The NHLs top draft pick of 2023 also is glad to to have his mom visit for some help in the kitchen before the team leaves on its chartered jet and stays in top-brand luxury hotels.
"Everyone's probably happy for the cooking for tonight," Bedard said.
But Bedard noted he's been learning to prepare his own meals. When he first arrived in Chicago, he said he sometimes relied a long-distance recipe assist from Melanie via FaceTime.
"I've been pretty good lately, I'm not going to lie," Bedard said. "I've been kind of whipping stuff up, but I'm learning.
"I'm not a pro at all, but when I'm alone, it's kind of fun so far," Bedard said. "I mean honeymoon phase, but I don't get sick of it. But it's good to have her here to cook for me as well." See video.
BTW, that other "Connor" on the Blackhawks, veteran defenseman Connor Murphy, says he like mom's trips because the mothers tend to not worry so much about wins and losses as the dads.
Coach Luke Richardson said this may be his first official "mom's trip."
The Blackhawks schedule theirs every other year and this is Richardson's second season behind Chicago's bench. Previous teams he played or worked for didn't have them per se, but Richardson has been on trips when family members joined the club.
"(You see) players with their parents or siblings or mentors, whoever comes," Richardson said. "You see them mix together with the other people that are telling stories. That's how you really grow and get to know each other."
The trips also give family members insight into the players' jobs, schedule and an "NHL lifestyle."
"Sometimes we complain about the schedule or travel," Richardson said. "But when they come and see we're staying at the Four Seasons or someplace like that, they don't have any empathy for you any more."