EDMONTON – Lots of parents end up coaching their kids’ teams, but thanks to his son’s soaring success, Brian McDavid might be the most famous hockey dad in North America.
Connor McDavid (in case you’ve been living under a rock) was the Edmonton Oilers’ first-overall pick and has been compared to the likes of Wayne Gretzky and Sidney Crosby.
READ MORE: Oilers select Connor McDavid first overall in NHL Draft
Global Edmonton’s John Sexsmith caught up with Brian to talk about parenting young hockey players, coaching your own kids and emphasizing character over celebrity.
“It’s hard to talk about any one particular moment when I realized he was going to be this player,” said Connor’s father. “There really wasn’t one. But he definitely had an affinity for the game at a very young age. He seemed to possess an IQ for the game even when he was five or six years old.”
“It wasn’t dramatic, but it was different.”
Brian coached both his sons in hockey. He coached Connor for six years at the AAA level.
“I think it worked out really well,” said Brian. “I’d like to think he’d say the same thing.”
“It wasn’t without its ups and downs, like every other sort of relationship, but for the most part it was terrific.”
More than the coaching itself, Brian enjoyed spending all that time with Connor and Cameron. In fact, he called it “a gift.”
“That’s how I looked at hockey. It was a real opportunity for me to connect with my kids and spend time with them and to pass on some things that I love.”
Watch below: Connor McDavid’s dad on keeping him grounded
He said hockey for the boys was mostly about having fun, but that Connor put in the time outside of the fun to train and hone his skills.
“I always felt like he could be a player, and be a significant player at some point, provided he stayed the course and carried on doing all the right things to get himself there, and he’s done those things.”
READ MORE: Edmonton ready to welcome hockey phenom Connor McDavid
When asked how he keeps his son grounded, Brian doesn’t hesitate.
“It’s not hard. He’s a great kid. My wife and I have two wonderful boys.”
“We always taught them to be humble, genuine, sincere, listen more than you talk and you’ll get some place in the world,” added Brian. “We’re fortunate that they learned those lessons early.”
Cameron McDavid is currently attending Ivy Business School at Western University.
Connor – in addition to being one of the most talked-about rookies ever – helped make a little girl’s superhero dream come true in Edmonton on Monday.
READ MORE: SpiderMable to the rescue! Young girl successfully saves Edmonton Oilers captain from evil
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