Sullivan is the father-in-law of Boston Bruins defenseman - and Team USA assistant captain - Charlie McAvoy
Sullivan is the father-in-law of Boston Bruins defenseman - and Team USA assistant captain - Charlie McAvoy
Pittsburgh Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan is finally getting his chance to coach at the highest level of USA Hockey, as his team will take on Finland Thursday night to open its bid at the 4 Nations Face-off in Montreal.
But for Sullivan, it's not just an international tournament, however large-scale that is. For him, it's a bit more personal.
Sullivan is the father-in-law of Team USA defenseman and assistant captain Charlie McAvoy, who regularly suits up for the Boston Bruins during the NHL season. McAvoy is married to Sullivan's daughter, Kiley, and they recently had their first child - and Sullivan's first grandchild.
And that makes this tournament a family affair of sorts for Sullivan, who admits that this is something he's been looking forward to for a long time.
“What it’s like when him and my daughter just had their first baby, for my wife and I, it’s an incredible thrill,” Sullivan told WTAE Pittsburgh. “It’s certainly a privilege to be a grandparent, and we’re enjoying that process also. And it’s new. He’s only 2 weeks old, I believe. It’s exciting times for our family.
"This event just adds to the excitement. I’m certainly, from my standpoint, I can’t tell you what it means to me to have the opportunity to share in this event with him.”
McAvoy shares the same enthusiasm for this experience as his father-in-law.
“I have a son now, for his dad to play for his grandpa, those are things that I would have never dreamed of,” McAvoy said. “This is just where hockey’s taken us, where our jobs have taken us, so it’s extremely special.”
Sullivan thinks the world of McAvoy, and he talked about some of the qualities that made him a great choice for assistant captain, an honor that was bestowed upon McAvoy by Team USA coaches and management by vote.
"I think Charlie and [Matthew Tkachuk], they're two guys that are going to drag us into the fight," Sullivan said. "They're vocal guys, they're emotional guys... they'll be two guys that I think will carry that torch for us. But, it doesn't end there. We're certainly excited about these guys leading the group, but they're going to have a lot of help with some of the people that are on that roster."
Auston Matthews will captain Team USA through the tournament, with Tkachuk and McAvoy as the assistants. In the words of several Team USA representatives, fans, and alumni - including Mike Eruzione, known for captaining the Miracle on Ice USA team at the 1980 Olympic games in Salt Lake City - this could very well be the best team the U.S. has ever iced.
Sullivan, GM Bill Guerin, Penguins assistant coach David Quinn, and the rest of Team USA are excited to have their chance at rising to the challenge. Each of the four teams - USA, Finland, Canada, and Sweden - will play one head-to-head matchup in round-robin play before the championship game participants are decided by total points accrued (three for a regulation win, two for an overtime win, one for an overtime loss).
This is a big deal for Team USA and for the NHL, as players haven't partaken in international play in nine years.
But, despite the enormity of the moment - and the weight of the upcoming 2026 Olympics upon everyone - the small, personal detail of a memory that Sullivan and McAvoy can share together might be what both look back on with the most fondness.
“Someday we might look back on this and smile,” Sullivan said. “Charlie means the world to us, to our family. First and foremost, he’s a terrific hockey player. He’s a fierce competitor. But more importantly than that is he’s a great kid and a good person, and he means the world to our family.”
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