Batherson And Greig Sibling Ties Bind The PWHL And NHL

The PWHL and NHL added more sibling pairings, with Mae and Drake Batherson, and Ridly and Dara Greig. There's a strong connection between the siblings that will bind the league's together next season.

Mae Batherson and Dara Greig had more in common than draft day nerves earlier this month in St. Paul, Minnesota when they waited to see which PWHL team would select them. Batherson and Greig both have brothers playing in the NHL, namely Drake Batherson and Ridly Greig, both forwards for the Ottawa Senators.

Now, they are set to join hockey families like Jesse and J.T. Compher, and Jincy and Josh Dunne, as the only sibling pairs to play in the two professional leagues - the NHL and PWHL.

“It was great. I went through the whole process with Drake and I never thought I'd be able to do it on my own,” said Mae Batherson, 23, who was chosen 33rd overall by PWHL Minnesota.

“It was so cool, I am super excited,” said Dara Greig, 23, who was chosen 23rd overall by PWHL Montreal.

It may not be entirely coincidence that both pairs of siblings had dads who played professional hockey. Mark Greig played nine years in the NHL while Norm Batherson played professionally in the AHL, IHL, and Europe.

Drake Batherson travelled to Minnesota to be there on draft day with his sister. 

“That was pretty cool for her to get picked, after being through my drafts and being at all my hockey stuff. It was nice just for her to have a spotlight there,” said Drake Batherson.

Ridly Greig spent the day at back home in Lethbridge, where Dara also watched herself get drafted from afar. When Dara was drafted the whole family began to cheer and yell—except Ridly, who is known for his extremely low-key demeanour. 

“I was kind of quiet and smiling in the back, but it was cool. Everybody gave her a hug and was happy,” said Ridly Greig. “We're all really happy for her. It was obviously a moment we will all remember and happy I can be a part of it.”

Until last year, with the formation of the PWHL, many women did not see a professional future in hockey, and neither Dara Greig nor Mae Batherson planned to turn pro. Greig played her NCAA hockey for Colgate University and Batherson for St. Lawrence University.

The creation and success of the PWHL changed everything.

“I've always known that I wanted to continue to play hockey. But I didn't think living the pro-life on its own would be a possibility,” said Mae Batherson. “I've been watching my brother do it for years. And I've always been so jealous. Like, ‘Oh, I wish I could live your life’. And now I possibly can, which is so cool."

“I think I was leaning more towards first quitting hockey and moving on to something else,” said Dara Greig. “The PWHL’s first season started in January, and to see how successful it was and to watch that level of hockey, it sparked a lot of interest for me and the idea that, hey, maybe I could try to play professional hockey and maybe this is something I should be working towards.”

Both athletes started their journeys to professional hockey as kids battling it out with their brothers on backyard rinks.

“On the pond we would be out there for hours. Obviously, spending time out there in the end we developed some skills with each other,” said Ridly Greig.

Dara and Ridly played together on minor hockey teams back home in Alberta. Both were among the shorter players on their minor hockey teams.

“Growing up, we were kind of each other's support system,” said Dara Greig, but things could also get chippy between them. “Playing against each other and competing against each other in practice, we sometimes got into some fights. It brought out the gritty side that we both have today in our games.”

The Greigs had a shooting tarp in the garage where they would practice shooting pucks at each other. One would shoot, and the other would be the goalie.

“We took a couple shots at the shin there and got in a couple of fights because we're like, ‘oh, you're trying to hit me on purpose,’” Dara Greig said laughingly.

The Greigs are at heart a hockey family.

“There are not many things that we talk about other than hockey really. Especially in the summers in our house. It’s really hockey talk nonstop,” said Dara Greig.

It was a different dynamic for the Bathersons, growing up. Each sibling would help the other work on their skills, competing in mini sticks, in the driveway, and on the pond.

“If she would dangle me, I would just start laughing or I would dangle her and she would start laughing,” said Drake Batherson.

Mae credits Drake for always including her. “He was honestly really good about it,” said Mae. “Obviously you have the annoying little sister that wants to do everything you do. But he always welcomed me into the games. And a lot of the times, he would make sure he was on my team just to protect me.”

Over the years, both sets of siblings developed a distinctive family style of play: the Greigs both known for their grit, determination, and work ethic and the Bathersons known for their hockey smarts.

“I was the only girl on the team, and he was the tiniest player on the team,” said Dara Greig. “We kind of had to bring that extra fight and compete and I guess a little bit of fearlessness.”

“I think the biggest strength for both of us, I would say is our hockey IQ and the way we can read plays and make plays out there,” said Drake Batherson. “But (Mae) was at the top of the NCAA for block shots this year. So, I guess that's not one thing we have in common.”

“We like to score goals, we both have pretty good finish,” said Mae Batherson.

Both brothers have tips for their younger sisters.

“My advice to [Dara] was to be confident,” said Ridly Greig. “When I came into pro, I wasn't exactly the most confident player. She's a good player. And I think she needs to know that to succeed.”

“Ridly said, try not to get too high, not too low, because the work doesn't really start until you're chosen by a team, and then you go from there,” said Dara Greig. “And he's recently talked a lot about how confidence is more than half the game.”

Drake Batherson took a different approach with Mae, offering advice starting with the draft-day nerves.

“I said” ‘Mae, if you're going to be a professional, you’d better get used to this stuff. And by getting used to that stuff, you’ve got to go through nerves like this.' And she handled herself great.”

Mae Batherson also credits Drake for providing her with insight into how to train, eat correctly and recover properly as Drake has shared what he’s learned from his time in the NHL with the Senators and from his close friends Nate MacKinnon and Sidney Crosby.

However, Mae has given Drake a piece of advice too: “Just shoot the puck more.”

Both sibling pairs expect to cross paths during the season ahead.

“I'm so excited. Obviously if I couldn't be in Ottawa with him, Montreal is the next closest, so it’s unreal,” said Dara Greig.

Drake Batherson hopes to get some of his Senators teammates out for one or two of Mae’s games. Last season, he routinely drove down from Ottawa to watch his sister play at St. Lawrence University on Friday nights and off-nights which is only a couple hours away.

“I’m always talking and showing the boys Mae’s highlights after a big night, so I'm sure they'll come and watch a game live; it would be amazing to get the boys out.”

“If I can get my hands on a (PWHL Minnesota) jersey, I want to get it framed up in the house,” said Drake Batherson. “I'll be keeping an eye out for those jerseys.”

Dara Greig isn’t sure how that will work.

“I might have to get on (Ridly) about getting a PWHL Montreal jersey of mine, " she said. “I don't know if Ridly can be seen in a Montreal jersey; fans would be upset.”

In the end, what is clear is that Ridly Greig and Drake Batherson will be watching tons of PWHL Minnesota and PWHL Montreal games next season.

“Last year, we were both pretty invested in the league already,” said Drake Batherson. “And our sisters weren't even drafted. So now, having our sisters involved in the league we’re definitely going to watch and keep up with it.”