The Chicago Blackhawks’ fathers trip is underway. And what a way for it to get started, huh? Especially if you’re Vinnie Hinostroza’s dad, as he watched his son not only tie the game, but score the game-winner – one of the few rookies to do that this season.
It’s gotta be an awesome thing for the dads to all watch; all that time they spent helping their sons get into the game, and then get good enough to, well, play it at the highest level. I can’t imagine the amount of pride that must go into that.
Artemi Panarin has a very different father’s trip story that his teammates, though. Beautifully chronicled by Mark Lazerus, Panarin’s parents split when he was young, so it was mostly his grandparents raising him – his biological father not in the picture – but he still had a dad, of sorts, to take on this trip: Andrew Aksyonov, a part of the Russian family that helped and interpreted for Panarin when he first came over to the United States.
I imagine this must be a really cool experience for Michal Kempny and his dad, too, as he went undrafted, and is now playing his first season in the NHL.
Some other dads we know are out on the trip? Artem Anisimov’s:
Dennis Rasmussen’s:
And Jordin Tootoo’s:
Annual Fathers Trip for the @NHLBlackhawks. Looking forward to a great week with our dads !! pic.twitter.com/MPSeZ79zi0
— Jordin Tootoo (@Jtootoo22) January 16, 2017
The Hawks don’t play again until Jan. 20, so that’s even more quality time they get to spend with their dads. No doubt this is a great trip, as it is every year – and it’s already off to a great start.