Do genetics play a role in creating great hockey players?
Sometimes. Two of Gordie Howe's sons were good enough to play pro hockey and Marty was a great defenceman, if not truly a superstar. But there's no third generation of hockey Howes coming down the 'pike.
Bobby Orr's two sons, Darren and Brent, were not athletes despite the fact their father changed the way the game is played and, along with Howe and Wayne Gretzky, is the interchangeable answer as to who was the greatest player to ever lace 'em up in the NHL. None of Gretzky's kids have pro hockey potential.
But sometimes there is a second generation. One of the best 15-year-old players in Canada is Max Domi, the son of former Toronto Maple Leafs enforcer Tie Domi. Max is a skilled forward winding up his minor midget days in Toronto and planning to continue his education and play in the United States instead of playing major junior in the Ontario Hockey League. No one wishes to jinx a teen, but there's a lot of buzz about Max's potential.
The OHL Belleville Bulls have lots of players with dads who played in the NHL. Carter Sandlak, who played minor hockey for the London Jr. Knights, is the son of former Vancouver Canuck Jim Sandlak. Bjorn Krupp is son of Ewe Krupp, ex of the Detroit Red Wings. Dylan Corson is the son of Shayne Corson, who played for the Montreal Canadiens, Toronto Maple Leafs and Dallas Stars. Dylan's uncle, by marriage, is Darcy Tucker, whose NHL career took him to Montreal, Tampa Bay, Toronto and Colorado. Andy Bathgate's father didn't play in the NHL, but his grandfather and namesake did - with the Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Rangers, Detroit Red Wings and Pittsburgh Penguins before finishing his pro career in the old World Hockey Association with the Vancouver Blazers.
Just for good measure, Belleville has the brother of an NHLer on the team, goaltender Malcolm Subban. Malcolm's brother, PK, is a rookie defenceman with the Canadiens.
So it seems sometimes at least hockey skills can be all relative.
Sometimes. Two of Gordie Howe's sons were good enough to play pro hockey and Marty was a great defenceman, if not truly a superstar. But there's no third generation of hockey Howes coming down the 'pike.
Bobby Orr's two sons, Darren and Brent, were not athletes despite the fact their father changed the way the game is played and, along with Howe and Wayne Gretzky, is the interchangeable answer as to who was the greatest player to ever lace 'em up in the NHL. None of Gretzky's kids have pro hockey potential.
But sometimes there is a second generation. One of the best 15-year-old players in Canada is Max Domi, the son of former Toronto Maple Leafs enforcer Tie Domi. Max is a skilled forward winding up his minor midget days in Toronto and planning to continue his education and play in the United States instead of playing major junior in the Ontario Hockey League. No one wishes to jinx a teen, but there's a lot of buzz about Max's potential.
The OHL Belleville Bulls have lots of players with dads who played in the NHL. Carter Sandlak, who played minor hockey for the London Jr. Knights, is the son of former Vancouver Canuck Jim Sandlak. Bjorn Krupp is son of Ewe Krupp, ex of the Detroit Red Wings. Dylan Corson is the son of Shayne Corson, who played for the Montreal Canadiens, Toronto Maple Leafs and Dallas Stars. Dylan's uncle, by marriage, is Darcy Tucker, whose NHL career took him to Montreal, Tampa Bay, Toronto and Colorado. Andy Bathgate's father didn't play in the NHL, but his grandfather and namesake did - with the Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Rangers, Detroit Red Wings and Pittsburgh Penguins before finishing his pro career in the old World Hockey Association with the Vancouver Blazers.
Just for good measure, Belleville has the brother of an NHLer on the team, goaltender Malcolm Subban. Malcolm's brother, PK, is a rookie defenceman with the Canadiens.
So it seems sometimes at least hockey skills can be all relative.
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