Rychel watches son score twice for Canada

LAKE PLACID, N.Y. -- It wasn't that long ago that Warren Rychel and Tie Domi were NHL players watching their sons start minor-hockey careers.

Now, Kerby Rychel and Max Domi are the future for Hockey Canada, and the dads still are watching and having fun.

"It's nice to sit up there," Warren Rychel told NHL.com. "I'm up there with Tie, we played together and we're good friends. … It's funny how they grew up, grew into men. First they're in midgets, the OHL draft, playing in international events, the NHL draft. Kind of goes real quick. It was good to see."

Warren had a lot to be proud of Thursday when Kerby scored a pair of goals, including the eventual game-winner, in the second period of Canada's 7-3 victory against Sweden.

"Kerby had a good game," Warren said. "Very timely goals. I think that gave them a good lead there."

Canada coach Brent Sutter said he was happy with how Kerby used his size and strength to get to the net for the goals, each coming from right outside the blue paint.

"[Rychel] has to play that way," Sutter said. "He has to get to the net and he's going to do it. He's a greasy player. He's a player that plays heavy and he needs to play that way. He warranted what he got here [Thursday] because of his complete play and how hard he worked."

Kerby Rychel said he knows he doesn't have the skill level of some of his teammates here at the national junior evaluation camp, so he's using his strength and his 6-foot-1, 205-pound body to his best advantage.

"There's so many skilled players here," he told NHL.com. "I know I don't fall under a strictly skilled game. I know I do have some skill, but I do have to crash and bang and play with that skill that I do have."

Kerby is used to piling up the goals with his father watching -- he had 40 goals last season with the Windsor Spitfires of the Ontario Hockey League, a team his father owns -- but Warren still enjoyed the show as a proud father.

"It was good," he said. "First of all, the competition is high to make this club. … He's worked hard, he's put himself in a situation to play well. I'm glad he played well."

---