HALIFAX -- The Canadians are essentially brothers in arms for the first part of this tournament.
They shuffle in from umpteen different and less-than-successful National Hockey League teams, spend every waking moment together and hothouse the brand of chemistry that has played a part in producing a world-leading 44 medals at the IIHF world hockey championship.
Team Canada captain Shane Doan is all smiles during practice on Sunday. The Canadian players and their families are enjoying world championships.
After the fusion process begins, and it usually takes about 10 days, the family quite suddenly grows exponentially to become mothers and fathers and children and wives and grandparents in the capable and open arms of Hockey Canada, who started a world-leading family program in 1997.
"You feel bad for the other countries. You tell them what Hockey Canada does and they get jealous," said captain Shane Doan. "Hockey Canada goes so far and beyond. They're incredible about it."
They are careful to do all the little things, like making sure that Mother's Day is properly and conveniently observed, since it is always encompassed by this tournament.
"They made sure everybody's mom had flowers," said Doan.
And somewhat larger things, like flying in, feeding and housing one guest for every team member; including coaches, trainers and public relations staff. The tournament is usually staged in Europe, so the airfare tab can be an expensive portion of the $600,000 Hockey Canada usually budgets for the event.
Once the family members hit the ground, and about 60 have arrived here, they are given high priority by Hockey Canada's director of men's national teams Scott Salmond, who oversees the efforts of Mark Black, the family program co-ordinator for this event.
"He makes sure they get on the bus. He makes sure they have their tickets. If they need dinner reservations, they call Mark. He's their own personal concierge almost," said Salmond. "That's our commitment."
The families are treated to luncheons and guided bus tours. They travel on the team bus to games and eat team meals. They spend time in Hockey Canada House, a hosting room, between periods of Team Canada games. They are generally treated as vital members of the team and the impression is always a lasting one. Rick Nash's grandfather was in Moscow last year and is back again because he had such a great time.
Nash is pleased and proud to have him around. It is all part of the master plan. Because Doan and Nash and Steve Staios are hockey players at practices and during games, for hours at a time. But they are always husbands, sons, grandsons and fathers. And that connection is well worth making.
"It's great," said Doan, whose entire immediate family is here. "The guys get to know your kids. Jason Chimera is one of my kids' favourites. He's crazy, they said. Hockey Canada does an incredible job of including them in everything. It's probably one of the best things Hockey Canada does.
"I can't say enough. Going to Moscow didn't sound like a good family trip but my kids had a blast. They went to the Kremlin, Red Square and they got to do all that. My kids would never see that if Hockey Canada didn't do such a great job."
-- Canwest News Service
PREVIOUS
