2009 NHL Draft: Fathers, sons, and other relatives

by James Mirtle on Jun 28, 2009 10:03 AM CDT Comment 7 comments

Former NHL hockey player Ulf Samuelsson takes a picture of his son, Phllip, who was drafted by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the second round at the 2009 NHL entry draft.

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One of the major stories of draft weekend this year was all the sons of former NHLers that were selected, from the progeny of Ray Bourque on down to Jan Erixon and Steve Smith. Here's a run through of all the relations from the 2009 entry draft:

Fathers and sons (in order of selection)

Tim Erixon, Flames -- son of former NHL forward Jan Erixon
Dylan Olsen, Blackhawks -- son of former NHL defenceman Darryl Olsen
Carter Ashton, Lightning -- son of former NHL forward Brent Ashton
Landon Ferraro, Red Wings -- son of former NHL forward Ray Ferraro
Philip Samuelsson, Penguins -- son of former NHL defenceman Ulf Samuelsson
Tyson Barrie, Avalanche -- son of current part-owner of Lightning and former NHL forward Len Barrie
Ryan Bourque, Rangers -- son of former NHL defenceman Ray Bourque
Brandon Maxwell, Avalanche -- son of former NHL defenceman Brad Maxwell
Marcus Foligno, Sabres -- son of former NHL forward Mike Foligno
Alex Velischek, Penguins -- son of former NHL defenseman Randy Velischek
Jordan Nolan, Kings -- son of former NHL coach Ted Nolan
Ben Sexton, Bruins -- son of Panthers assistant GM Randy Sexton
Lane MacDermid, Bruins -- son of former NHL forward Paul MacDermid
Barron Smith, Maple Leafs -- son of former NHL defenseman Steve Smith

Brothers

Brayden Schenn, Kings -- brother of current Leafs defencemen Luke Schenn
Ryan O’Reilly, Avalanche -- brother of current Preds forward Cal O'Reilly
Ryan Bourque, Rangers -- brother of current Capitals forward Chris Bourque
Marcus Foligno, Sabres -- brother of current Senators forward Nick Foligno
Eric Wellwood, Flyers -- brother of current NHL forward Kyle Wellwood
Jordan Nolan, Kings -- brother of Canucks draft pick Brandon Nolan

Grandsons

Andy Bathgate, Penguins -- grandson of former NHL defenceman Andy Bathgate
Mac Bennett, Canadiens -- grandson of former NHL goaltender Harvey Bennett

Nephews

Matt Duchene, Avalanche -- nephew of current Anaheim assistant coach Newell Brown
Matthew Hackett, Wild -- nephew of former NHL goaltender Jeff Hackett
Mac Bennett, Canadiens -- nephew of former NHL players Curt, Bill and Harvey Bennett, Jr.

That's an incredible list, really, and I think it's a tribute to how small the hockey world is. And good bloodlines. The list means a total of almost 16 per cent of all players picked who had some relation to a player and/or coach or manager in the league.

Erixon, Ashton, Ferraro, Samuelsson, Barrie, Bourque and Schenn had plenty of coverage because of where they were taken, but here are some interesting tidbits about a few of the others.

Here's Andy Bathgate, who has the unfortunate task of trying to live up to having the namesake of the 1958-59 Hart Trophy winner:

"Bloodlines probably won't be a factor in any of us making it to the NHL, but it's cool to talk about," he said after the Penguins selected him in the fifth round. "At least people will know how to spell our names in Pittsburgh right away."

Netminder Matt Hackett, meanwhile, had his uncle's help in the form of some training with the Avalanche, where Jeff Hackett was the goaltending coach:

"Right before camp I brought him out here to Colorado and mixed him in with some of the NHL players," said Jeff. "Ian Laperriere was one, and he took him under his wing and showed him how they worked out and how hard they prepare."

Mac Bennett got some humorous words of advice from his uncles, Curt (a centre who played 580 NHL games with the Blues, Rangers and Atlanta Flames in the '70s) and Harvey Jr. (a centre who played 268 games with five NHL clubs in the same time period):

They told me to just enjoy the entire trip," he said. "They’ve taught me the game; they’ve taught me to jump into the play as a defenseman. My uncle (Curt) just said that whenever you get into a fight, just sucker somebody."

Bennett's grandfather, Harvey, was from Saskatchewan and played just 25 NHL games with the Bruins, but had a long career in the AHL with the Providence Reds. The family settled in Rhode Island, where Mac grew up, and he's on his way to the University of Michigan down the line.

Barron Smith is another American defenceman who has Canadian lineage, as he was born in Chicago when his father, Steve, a well-known Oilers blueliner was with the Blackhawks:

"We're betting there on potential more than anything else," said Leafs GM Brian Burke on drafting Smith in the last round. "Good bloodlines, big body, good snarl. He's got a chance."

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Marcus Foligno

Regarding the famous Foligno Hop:

Foligno’s son Nick is a forward for the Ottawa Senators and celebrated his first NHL goal with the jump. Someday, Marcus may have the chance.

“I’m still debating that,” Marcus said. "I know that my brother’s teammates, they made him do it. So if one day when I’m playing for Buffalo and my teammates make me do it, then I’m going to have to do it.

“It’s really exciting,” Mike Foligno said. “It’s a great opportunity for him, and I think Buffalo’s really going to love the player he is.”

by Afino on Jun 28, 2009 10:30 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I know the brother of Detroit’s recent first rounder, Brenden Smith, was drafted, don’t remember to who or his first name.

Bennett might have to be given honourary saskhab status, just like I’m giving honourary saskhab status to their 5th rounder Gabriel Dumont, for having the same name as the Métis leader who was a leader of the Northwest Resistance.

Hockey blogging can't get any flatter.

by saskhab on Jun 28, 2009 11:47 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs