#GirlDads

March was already slated to be an eventful month for the Anders Lee, Jordan Eberle and Josh Bailey, who were gearing up for a cutthroat playoff push against the widespread parity of the Metropolitan Division. Off the ice, Lee and Eberle were each expecting the arrivals of their first child, while Bailey was expecting his third. They were worrying about things like having to rush back from the road to be in the delivery room though that was before the NHL was placed on an indefinite suspension on March 12 due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Fast forward to April and all three Islanders are new girl dads, and have since shared the experiences of navigating fatherhood during a global pandemic.
"It was crazy] to bring a child into [the world] with everything going on," Eberle said of welcoming his daughter days after the NHL's pause. "We'll definitely have a story for her when she's older and understands so we can explain to her what the heck was going on when she came into this world."
Amidst these unsettling circumstances, there's been a silver lining for NHLers, particularly for the fathers. Stay at home orders across the nation have afforded players with an abundance of quality time with their families during a month that is notoriously solely focused on priming an opportunity to make a Stanley Cup run.
Lee was first, as he and his wife Grace welcomed Ruby Jeanne Lee into their lives on March 2, 10 days prior to the unimaginable suspension of the regular season. Ruby was not yet a week old before the Islanders captain departed on March 8 for the last lengthy road trip of the season through western Canada. Lee ultimately returned to Long Island four days later and has since relished in this precious time at home with his wife and daughter.
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"It's been really special to be home all the time now," Lee said. "To be able to help out with Grace and be there with Ruby, it's time you don't get back. Looking at our schedule, we were going to be on the road for most of the month so I wasn't going to be able to lend a hand with Grace and hang out with Ruby as much as I've been able to. It's been a really special time, but a really different time with being quarantined."
While Lee's daily slate has somewhat freed up with the NHL's pause, he's undergone the right of passage for new parents; tending to an infant during all hours and receiving a warped sleep schedule as a result. But even with his days transformed from practices, video sessions, and team meetings, to diaper changes, bottle feedings and less time catching Zs, the 29-year-old is appreciating these priceless moments with his family.
"It's incredible, you find energy somehow," Lee said. "I'm not getting as much sleep as I was before. Grace is the one that's really putting in that much more time and to see her do it is just amazing. We've become this little family this last month and it's been amazing. Every time I think about it puts a smile on my face. I'm just trying to soak it all up right now."
For Eberle, the timing of the league's suspension, while unfortunate, allowed him to return to Long Island with plenty of time to join his wife Lauren and witness the birth of his daughter, Collins Rodych Eberle, on March 16. That was a relief to Eberle, as Lauren was past her due date when he returned home from Calgary.
Tweet from @jeberle_7: Here���s some happiness in the world. 7 pounds 14 ounces. Baby girl Collins Rodych Eberle!!!! pic.twitter.com/72QB2TsWUV
The couple had already planned on having a home-birth, which they were grateful for, given the circumstances of the COVID-19 outbreak. Like the Lees, the Eberles opted to be surprised rather than revealing the gender of their first-born ahead of time.
"I thought it was going to be a boy," Eberle said. "Everyone we talked to and with her being late. It was crazy, I was actually four weeks late. My mom says I was an experiment because you're only supposed to keep babies in for two weeks past due date. We had a couple of names picked out. I'm not sure how we settled on Collins. My wife had heard it and told me and I really liked the name. I hadn't heard of a Collins before. I remembered the movie The Blind Side, the football movie. The girl in that movie is named Collins and I really liked that. We thought it was a strong girls name."
The 29-year-old winger has found solace during these uncertain times as he shares priceless moments with Lauren and Collins. Whether it's daily outings around the neighborhood, to lounging with a snoozing Collins cradled on his chest, to playing chords of guitar at bedtime, or marveling with Lauren over their little one, Eberle is embracing this seemingly indulgent time at home.
"It's funny with the timing of all this with all of the craziness in the world," Eberle said. "What are the chances that the season would be [paused] and I'd have time to spend time with [Collins]. That's been a positive. Obviously, with the suspension of the season it gives me time to get to know her and to kind of get into a routine. More than anything, to just help my wife out. With no one being able to travel it's just been us three right now."
Bailey and his wife Megan welcomed their newest addition and first daughter, Blake Romi Bailey, on March 31. For the 30-year-old, who found out the gender ahead of time, he was eager to share the experience with new dads Eberle and Lee. Inevitably, the trio would all become girl dads.

"You still get that same excitement for your second or your third," Bailey said. "We're obviously so excited for our little girl to get here. You already know that feeling of getting to see your son or daughter for the first time. So, I think for the new dads and their wives, you're excited for them to get to experience that too. It's an exciting time for this group."
The Bailey bunch is now a family of five and will certainly have their hands full. For the Bailey boys; Josh and sons Wyatt and Mack, life may be a little different with a baby girl in the mix.
"Yep, this will be new for me," Bailey said. "I think Wyatt and Mack haven't quite grasped what's about to happen. They're so used to going fishing and playing mini sticks in the basement, so a little girl around will be a little different for sure, but it'll be fun to see them as older brothers to a little sister."
Instagram from @ny\_islanders: #Isles dads and their mini-me's are the cutest things you'll see all day 🤗
Lee and Eberle are joining the growing group of parents on the Islanders roster. For a team that's seemingly grown up together, the next natural step is raising families together.
"We really have grown up together," Lee said. "These big life experiences are really incredible to go through with your teammates. It makes it that much more special and bonds you as a group. You learn a lot from them, if they've gone through it before or vice versa and you can help each other out. That's what friendship and teammates are really all about."
While the Isles family grew by three just within the month of March, there are still nine other players on the team that already have children or are soon expecting.
Matt Martin and his wife, Sydney, are expecting their first child and baby girl this summer while Casey Cizikas and his wife, Kristy, recently announced that they'll be growing their family of three to a family of four with their first daughter due this October.

"The amount of kids on this team; we have to have the most of any team in the NHL," Eberle said. "Lauren and I went through the team the other day and I think there's 28 or 29 kids, which is a lot. We for sure have the most kids out of any team in the NHL, there's no question. I'd be shocked if we didn't."
The younger players on the team have yet to reach this momentous chapter of their lives, but are uplifted and fully engaged with so many families around on the team. For the veteran core and new fathers, sharing the experience with fellow fathers and reflecting on their younger days is a refreshing and amusing reminder of their own evolution into adulthood paralleled by their hockey careers.
"I think when you have that family aspect with the team aspect it makes it special," Eberle said. "Then, the young guys are great with all of the kids. They see them at team functions and stuff and jump right in. I think Bails' kids are pretending they're Mat Barzal down in the basement playing sticks and stuff. That kind of stuff is fun. I was a part of it when I was younger. I was hanging out with some of the veterans' kids. Now, to be on the other side of it and having my own kid is a little surreal, but good."