The Son Also Rises: Family connections at 2018 #SWTP
(Photo Credit: Clark – Terry Wilson/OHL Images / Sutter – Chris Mast / Groulx – David Chan)
The theme of sons following fathers (and in some cases brothers) into the athletic arena continues.
Here’s a look at some of the family connections at the 2018 Sherwin-Williams CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game.
XAVIER BOUCHARD, D, BAIE-COMEAU DRAKKAR
• Father Gilles Bouchard was CHL Coach of the Year in 2016, leading the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies to their first ever President Cup title. He was also a forward in the QMJHL for three seasons, spending time in Shawinigan, Trois-Rivieres, Beauport and Chicoutimi.
KODY CLARK, RW, OTTAWA 67’S
• The son of Wendel Clark, who was drafted No. 1 overall in 1985 as a member of the Saskatoon Blades, he was born during his father’s final NHL season.
BARRETT HAYTON, C, SAULT STE. MARIE GREYHOUNDS
• The son of former OHL defenceman and 1986 Los Angeles Kings draftee Brian Hayton who also served as head coach of the Kitchener Rangers from 1998-2000.
JACOB INGHAM, G, MISSISSAUGA STEELHEADS
• While Jacob tends to the crease, father Daryl Ingham patrolled the right wing and was drafted by the Philadelphia Flyers in the eighth round of the 1987 NHL Draft. He played with the Manitoba Junior Hockey League’s St. James Canadians before a three-year sting at the University of Manitoba.
PHILIPP KURASHEV, C, QUEBEC REMPARTS
• The son of long-time Soviet professional league defenceman Konstantin Kurashev. He played in three different Spengler Cup tournaments and currently serves as an assistant coach with HC Sochi of the KHL.
BENOIT-OLIVIER GROULX, LW, HALIFAX MOOSEHEADS
• His father, Benoit, is the long-time Gatineau Olympiques head coach who led Team Canada to World Junior gold in 2015. Benoit Groulx is now the head coach of the AHL’s Syracuse Crunch.
RYAN MCLEOD, C, MISSISSAUGA STEELHEADS
• His older brother Michael captains the Steelheads and was a 2016 first round pick of the New Jew Jersey Devils and won World Junior gold with Canada.
SERRON NOEL, RW, OSHAWA GENERALS
• The son of retired CFL player Dean Noel, with an imposing 6’5” frame reminiscent of a football wide receiver or tight end.
OLIVIER RODRIGUE, G, DRUMMONDVILLE VOLTIGEURS
• The son of Edmonton Oilers goaltending coach Sylvain Rodrigue who played four QMJHL seasons between the pipes in Chicoutimi and Val-d’Or.
RILEY SUTTER, RW, EVERETT SILVERTIPS
• The son of Ron Sutter, of the famed Alberta family that has produced eight NHLers across two generations, along with several other WHL players.
ANDREI SVECHNIKOV, RW, BARRIE COLTS
• His older brother Evgeny starred for the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles and became a first round pick of the Detroit Red Wings in 2015. He currently plays for the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins.
AKIL THOMAS, RW, NIAGARA ICEDOGS
• The son of long-time minor pro standout Kahlil Thomas and nephew of recently retired forward Leo Thomas. Kahlil played a total of 12 seasons, starring prominently with the CHL’s Memphis RiverKings and Oklahoma City Blazers.
JETT WOO, D, MOOSE JAW WARRIORS
• His father, Larry, is a former WHLer and University of Manitoba defenceman who appeared in Goon and its sequel, Goon: Last of the Enforcers.
FILIP ZADINA, F, HALIFAX MOOSEHEADS
• His father Marek Zadina is a long-time pro in his native country who represented the Czech Republic in the 1992 World Junior.
