Silver Nuggets: it's a Family Affair
NHL Families serve as the inspiration for today's post.
Yesterday was Family Day in Ontario, Alberta and Saskatchewan (it was Louis Riel Day in Manitoba, and Islander Day in P.E.I.), so today's Nuggets will look at NHL families and their connections to the Ottawa Senators. Don't care about families? Skip to the bottom for links.
The original Ottawa Senators had their fair share of familial connections:
The Boucher family (George "Buck", Frank, Bobby, and Billy)
Ottawa natives, two of the four brothers played for the Senators. Buck and Frank were the first set of brothers to face each other in a Stanley Cup final (along with Corb and Cy Denneny), when Buck's Senators were victorious against Frank's Vancouver Maroons.
The Cleghorns (Sprague and Odie)
Sprague played for the Senators from 1918-1921, and for Ottawa during the 1921 Stanley Cup finals. Sprague and Odie won a Cup together with the Canadiens in 1924.
Future Hall-of-Famer Cy played for the Senators from 1916 until 1928. Cy and Corbett were the first brothers to face each other in an NHL regular season game on December 22, 1917, as well as the first brothers (along with the Bouchers) to face each other in the Stanley Cup Final.
The Finnigans (Frank and Eddie)
Frank played for the Senators from 1923 to 1931 and from 1932 to 1934. His brother Eddie played 3 NHL games. Eddie was a member of the Senators when they moved to St. Louis.
The Kilreas (Hec, Wally, and Ken)
Hector "Hurricane" Kilrea played for the Senators from 1925 to 1931 and in 1932-1933 in a career that spanned 18 years. In addition to being a 3-time Stanley Cup champion, Hec was a champion speed skater. Upon retirement from pro hockey, he became an American, joined the military, served in WWII and received the Distinguished Service Cross, the Purple Heart, and French Croix de Guerre. Brother Wally also played for the Senators in 1929-30 and 1932-33. Wally played alongside Ken with the Detroit Red Wings in addition to playing with Hec in Ottawa.
The modern Sens also have NHL family connections:
The Arnasons (Chuck and Tyler)
Chuck was a winger for eight seasons with eight different teams. He was the first NHLer to play for five since defunct teams (Atlanta Flames, Kansas City Scouts, Colorado Rockies, Minnesota North Stars and Cleveland Barons). Son Tyler played for the Sens for 19 games in 2006.
Older brother Paul played 15 NHL games for the Edmonton Oilers in 1999-2000. This is a real quote from his Wikipedia page:
"After years of carrying RIM Blackberry Products, Paul has just made the switch to the Samsung Note. Critics are wondering if it will fit in his tight jeans that he likes to wear."
In addition to playing for the Oilers, Mike played for the Sens in 2006-07 and 2008-09.
Mark's pro career began in 2002 and he's played 38 NHL games. Brother Matt currently plays for the Minnesota Wild and he played 21 games for the Sens in 2009-10.
The Dineen brothers (Peter, Gord and Kevin)
While Peter played just two NHL games with the Red Wings, Gord and Kevin both played for the Sens: Gord from 1992-1994; Kevin play one season for the Sens in 1999-2000.
The Eaves family (Mike, Murray Eaves, Patrick and Ben)
Mike Eaves, a veteran of seven NHL seasons, was an assistant coach with the Pittsburgh Penguins from 1997-2000. Brother Murray played 57 NHL games over the course of eight seasons with the Jets and the Red Wings. Mike's son Patrick was a first round draft pick of the Ottawa Senators in 2003. He played for the Senators from 2005-2006 to 2007-2008. Patrick's older brother Ben was drafted 131st overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2001. Currently playing for Jokerit in the SM-liiga, Ben did not play an NHL game.
The Foligno family (Mike, Nick, Marcus, Wade Redden, and Eddie Giacomin)
Father Mike and sons Marcus and Nick have been regulars in the NHL; Nick with the Sens for five years. Wade and Nick were teammates with the Senators in 2007-08; in addition, Wade married Nick's cousin (Mike's niece). Giacomin and Mike Foligno both played for the Red Wings; Mike married Eddie's niece, mother to Nick and Marcus.
The Hossas (Marian, Marcel and Frantisek)
Marian played for the Senators from 1997 until 2004. Younger brother Marcel played in the NHL between 2001-02 and 2007-08. Marian and Marcel played together for the Slovak National Team at the Turin Olympics and dad Frantisek was the coached.
The Michaleks (Zbynek and Milan)
Milan has been a Senator since 2009; older brother Zbynek has been an NHLer since 2005.
The Millers (Kevin, Kelly, Kip, Ryan, and Drew)
Brothers Kevin, Kelly and Kip all had successful NHL careers. Kevin's lengthy career spanned from 1988-2005 and he played one season with the Senators. Kelly spent 16 seasons and played over 1000 games in the NHL mostly for the Washington Capitals. Kip had a 12-year career with eight different teams. Current NHLers and brothers Ryan and Drew Miller are cousins of the three Ks.
The Murrays (Bryan, Terry and Tim)
Bryan and Terry have been at this a long time. Big brother Bryan missed the playoffs only once in 13 seasons as an NHL head coach and has recorded over 600 NHL wins behind the bench; nevertheless, younger brother Terry has twice replaced Bryan as head coach (with the Capitals and with the Panthers). Terry was an NHL defenseman who played for four teams in eight seasons. Terry's last NHL job was behind the bench with the Kings but he was fired in the middle of their Cup-winning season. He's currently the head coach of the Adirondack Phantoms of the AHL. Nephew Tim has worked in the NHL since 1993 as a scout, Direct of Player Personnel and Assistant GM and joined the Senators in 2007.
Sens prospect Mark was drafted in 2010 and made his NHL debut in April, 2012. Older brother Michael was draft by the Coyotes in the 3rd round in 2008 and made his NHL debut in 2013 with Phoenix.
Senators Links:
- Bobby's weekly prospect round-up (S7S)
- Senators by the Numbers returns with a look at #20 (S7S)
- Scoring chances from yesterday's game (6th Sens)
- Michalek needs a second opinion (6th Sens)
- Travis Yost dissects the Sens PP power outage (Yost)
- Ryan took a poll to customize his horrible jersey appropriately (S7S)
- Peter Levi takes a look at the BSens through 50 games (Eye on the Sens)
- More Karlsson fallout: Mark Sutcliffe looks at the loss from a marketing standpoint (Senators Extra); Ian Mendes examines how injured Sens can help from the sidelines (Senators Extra)
Other Links:
- Worth a read: "Interview: Talking with Ian Laperierre about sexual assault" (Backhand Shelf). For those interested in equality issues in sports, check out Bloomer Girls Blog. The blog tackles homophobia, sexism, racism and discrimination insightfully.
- Harrison Mooney introduces the Gilles Marotte Trophy and awards it to NHLers with the worst shooting percentages. Unfortunately, two former Senators make the list (Puck Daddy)
- Bruce Dowbiggin looks at how advanced stats are still being ignored by those providing mainstream hockey coverage (Globe and Mail)
- Matt Duchene was offside, but don't worry Colorado fans, the goal still counted (Puck Daddy)
- Ken Daneyko is a little scary (SB Nation)
- A look at rivalry in the great state of hockey, Minnesota (SB Nation)
- Daniel Wagner asks: do players need to be saved from themselves? (Backhand Shelf)
- Elliotte Friedman's wonderful 30 Thoughts; Friedman talks Karlsson and equipment and Bryan Murray's plans (30 Thoughts)