The Family Business

It's not uncommon for family members to pursue similar careers. It makes perfect sense. Family connections provide expertise, experience and network connections through which to get your foot in the door. There are so many people whose first employment opportunity comes from a parent or adult relative.

When it comes to professional athletes, families are arguably more influential given the specialized physical nature of sports. Genetics must play a role, particularly for sports where leveraging height and size is important. Often families with multiple children try to consolidate their activities to minimize costs and time. Growing up playing with and against older siblings, or being coached by a parent can play a considerable role in athletic development.

Look no further than Brock's Varsity program. Without much research, there's plenty of siblings, parent-children and other combinations of past (denoted with Bold) and present Badgers. Off the top of my head, there's the Geldarts (Kaine and Anthony - Hockey), the Fasts (Ally – Volleyball, Jay and Doug– Basketball), the McDonnells (Hugh and Rory – Rugby), the Tippings (Jameson and Jesse – Basketball) and the Stirlings (Tori and Lauren – Volleyball), and those are just combinations in which they played for Brock.

So, I thought I'd take a look at the National Hockey League (NHL) for interesting and lesser known family connections. The Sedins, Staals and Lindros' are obvious, but did you know that Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier and Mario Lemieux all had brothers; Brett, Paul and Alain, that played in the NHL? Technically, Brett and Wayne Gretzky have the highest combined NHL point total for siblings (though Wayne's shoulders must be pretty sore carrying the family, scoring all but four of the fraternal duo's total points). It is not uncommon for one sibling to only enjoy a short professional career, but there are many contrasting examples such as Derian and Kevin Hatcher, Rob and Scott Niedermayer, Maurice and Henri Richard, Geoff and Russ Courtnall, and Bobby and Dennis Hull. Dennis, known as "The Silver Jet", graduated from Brock University with a degree in History and Physical Education following his retirement from the NHL.

Bobby "The Golden Jet" Hull also was the father of Brett Hull, passing along one of the greatest slap shots in the game. Father-son combinations are the second most common family tie. Gordie Howe, the NHL's all-time leader for games played, not only had two sons (Mark and Marty) make the pros, but Mr. Hockey also played with both of them in the 1979-80 season with the Hartford Whalers.

Then there's those few families where seemingly everyone is destined for Hockey's greatest stage. Blake Geoffrion is the NHL's first fourth generation player, and comes from a lineage of the highest Hockey pedigree going back from his father Dan Geoffrion, his grandfather Bernie "Boom Boom" Geoffrion and his great grandfather by marriage Howie Morenz.

You cannot talk Hockey families without mentioning the Sutters. Six Sutter brothers, Brian, Darryl, Duane, Brent, Rich and Ron, all played in the NHL. Add to that Brandon and Brett, sons on Brent and Darryl, and you may as well hold their family reunions at an arena.

Also of note is the Apps family, and goes to show that Hockey genetics know no gender lines. Hall of Famer Syl Apps was one of the Maple Leaf greats from 1936-1948, recording 432 points over his 10 season career, interrupted by two years of service during World War II. He won the Calder Trophy, a Lady Byng and three Stanley Cups. His son Syl Jr. played 10 seasons in the pros and his granddaughter Gillian is a two-time Olympic Champion with the Canadian Women's National team.

All I can say is there's a reason most professional athletes will credit family as a major reason for their success. Whether its genetics, training or just support (financial or otherwise), talent comes from the home just as equally as it does the gym, rink, court or field.