MONTREAL (AP) 鈥� Charlie McAvoy and Mike Sullivan have a strong connection off the ice that goes way beyond hockey.
McAvoy is married to Sullivan鈥檚 daughter Kiley, who recently gave birth to the couple鈥檚 first child. McAvoy plays defense for the Boston Bruins, Sullivan coaches the Pittsburgh Penguins and their careers had not overlapped until now, when they're on the same team with the United States at .
鈥淚 have a son now, for his dad to play for his grandpa, those are things that I would have never dreamed of,鈥� McAvoy said. 鈥淭his is just where hockey鈥檚 taken us, where our jobs have taken us, so it鈥檚 extremely special.鈥�
Sullivan, the U.S. team's head coach, called it an incredible privilege and thinks he and McAvoy will gain a greater appreciation of this looking back on it.
鈥淪omeday we might look back on this and smile,鈥� Sullivan said. 鈥淐harlie means the world to us, to our family. First and foremost, he鈥檚 a terrific hockey player. He鈥檚 fierce competitor. But more importantly than that is he鈥檚 a great kid and a good person and he means the world to our family.鈥�
Rhys Michael McAvoy was born in late January. Sullivan joked he had 鈥渮ero input鈥� on the name Kiley and Charlie chose.
But adding to their family just before being together for an international tournament only added to their joy.
鈥淲hat it鈥檚 like when him and my daughter just had their first baby, for my wife and I, it鈥檚 an incredible thrill,鈥� Sullivan said. "It鈥檚 certainly a privilege to be a grandparent, and we鈥檙e enjoying that process also. And it鈥檚 new. He鈥檚 only 2 weeks old, I believe. It鈥檚 exciting times for our family. This event just adds to the excitement. I鈥檓 certainly, from my standpoint, I can鈥檛 tell you what it means to me to have the opportunity to share in this event with him.鈥�
McAvoy said he does get teased a bit by his U.S. teammates, but he added that he and Sullivan are professionals and there's no concerns about the dynamics of playing for his father-in-law.
鈥淓verybody gets it at this point,鈥� McAvoy said. 鈥淢y friends all know, and everybody really knows. It鈥檚 certainly funnier now and easier to make a couple jokes about it, but at the end of the day, we鈥檝e both worked to be here and it鈥檚 an incredible honor to be here together.鈥�
Sanheim steps in
Canada lost Shea Theodore to a right wrist/forearm injury in the middle of its against Sweden, and coach Jon Cooper said the defenseman is out for the rest of the tournament.
鈥淚 just think about Theo as a person 鈥� I know how much this tournament meant to him and representing his country and being on that team,鈥� said U.S. center Jack Eichel, a teammate of Theodore's in the NHL with the Vegas Golden Knights. "Obviously it鈥檚 a huge loss for our team in Vegas and what he brings to our team on a night-in and night-out basis. He鈥檚 been so good this year. It鈥檚 never fun seeing anyone get hurt, and obviously I care about Theo as a person so I feel for him.鈥�
The next man up is Philadelphia's Travis Sanheim. He's also the only other defenseman on the roster because each team was only allowed to bring seven.
鈥淚 just said that I鈥檇 be ready if they needed me,鈥� Sanheim told reporters in Brossard, Quebec, after Canada's optional practice. "You鈥檇 hate to see it happen this way, but I鈥檓 looking forward to it.鈥�
Sweden rests
While Canada's Sidney Crosby and Nathan MacKinnon took the bus out to the Canadiens' practice facility in Brossard to get on the ice, Sweden's coaching staff opted not to have players skate at all. The snowstorm dumping several inches (centimeters) on Montreal factored in to that decision as the Swedes prepare to face rival Finland on Saturday afternoon.
鈥淚 felt the boys need the rest,鈥� coach Sam Hallam said. 鈥淎nd just with the weather being what it is, it would be double time out, double time back. I think for Saturday we鈥檙e going to be better by just having a day off today.鈥�
Hallam did not commit to starting Filip Gustavsson again, after the Minnesota Wild goaltender was excellent in making 24 saves against Canada.
鈥淚t was a really good game for us for 50 minutes (Wednesday night), and that goes from goalie all the way up,鈥� Hallam said. "We鈥檙e really happy with the way he played (against Canada), and we鈥檙e just going to put our minds into who gives us the best chance to win Saturday.鈥�
Barkov basks in Mario love
The tournament-opening ceremony involved the captains of all four teams and a legendary player from each of the four countries: Mike Richter from the U.S., Teemu Selanne from Finland, Daniel Alfredsson from Sweden and Mario Lemieux from Canada. Fans at Bell Centre roared when Lemieux walked onto the red carpet on the ice and chanted 鈥淢ario! Mario!鈥� to honor arguably the greatest French Canadian player in hockey history.
Aleksander Barkov, the who also wears the 鈥淐" for Finland, was blown away by the reception Lemieux got.
鈥淚 got to experience an amazing moment there on the ice, them obviously welcoming Mario Lemieux back in the building,鈥� Barkov said. 鈥淚t was one of the coolest moments I鈥檝e ever been a part of. It was a great experience and great atmosphere.鈥�
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AP NHL:
Stephen Whyno, The Associated Press
