Family bonding time for Kings on father-son trip
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The Kings will have some extra support during their trip to Phoenix for Monday’s game against the Coyotes.
The fathers of 16 players were scheduled to accompany the team on its charter flight to Arizona on Sunday, join their sons for team meals and watch from the stands when the Kings face the Coyotes on Monday. The fathers also were scheduled to attend a team dinner and stick around for the Kings’ game against the defending Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday at Staples Center.
That’s a lot of pressure not only for the players but also for Coach Terry Murray because there are more than a few coaches in that group of fathers.
‘I think a lot of the Canadian dads end up inevitably at some time in their kids’ life -- peewee, bantam, beginning hockey, somewhere along the line -- they usually rotate through and take their turns at it,’ Murray said Sunday.
‘I think it’s a wonderful thing. I know this started quite a few years ago. The Flyers did it a couple of years ago. It was really a lot of fun. The dads had a great time, and it brings a lot of energy to the players. That’s what I’m looking forward to here with our guys.’
And if the Kings win while the dads are around ...
‘They can stay,’ Murray said. ‘They don’t have to leave.’
Newcomer Randy Jones said his father, Butch, was attending a wedding in Hawaii and had planned to return to Canada but changed his itinerary to head for Los Angeles and join the father-son trip. ‘He’s more than happy to be here,’ Jones said.
Goaltender Jonathan Quick said his father, Doug, a route salesman for Entenmann’s, flew in Saturday night from Connecticut in time for a pizza dinner. ‘He’s all excited. He’s all fired up to be out here,’ Quick said. ‘He gets a week off from work and that alone will get him excited, never mind coming out here and getting to stay with me. I don’t get to see him too often.’
More later on the Kings’ practice and other hockey-related notes at www.latimes.com/sports.
-- Helene Elliott