Pelech Shares All-Star Experience with Brother

While Adam Pelech was on the ice at NHL All-Star Weekend, his brother Matt was up in the stands at T-Mobile Arena, taking in the whole experience.
It was a special moment for Matt, who was a first round pick of the Calgary Flames in 2005 and played 13 NHL games and 425 AHL games before spending five seasons playing in Europe. He's recently retired, but as a former pro, he knows the significance of playing in the All-Star Game and is proud of his brother's achievement.

"It's honestly just really cool," Matt Pelech said. "There are so many good players they could have chosen to come here and the fact that Adam gets recognized, it's awesome, it's well deserved and we're just happy to be here supporting him."
Pelech's other brother, Michael, couldn't make the All-Star festivities, but that's because he had an ECHL game also scheduled for the same time.
That's right, all three Pelech brothers carved out pro hockey careers - and Adam credits Matt and Mike with helping show him the way.
"Growing up with two older brothers who both played hockey, I had great role models and that's what got me interested in sports to begin with when I was a young," Pelech said. "They've been great role models for me throughout my career and I can't thank them enough."

The Pelech's are a typical hockey family - in the sense that the two older brothers used their younger sibling as a target/goalie.
"There's a famous picture where we had him in net when he was like three or four years old in nothing but a snowsuit and we were taking shots on him," Matt Pelech said. "My mom wasn't too happy, but I think he turned out pretty tough because of stuff like that."
Shots with pucks mind you.
"I'm sure they tormented him pretty good," Ottawa Senators forward and Pelech's youth and junior teammate Connor Brown said. "They were great older brothers, I'm close with them as well being around them for a long time, but it was a pretty typical hockey family."
Perhaps the most atypical part was the fact that Pelech's father, Bo, was an All-Canadian basketball player for the York University Lions, but whether it's hockey or basketball, athletic genes run in the family.
"If you look at their dad, he was a great basketball player growing up," said Tampa Bay Lightning captain Steven Stamkos, who played with Michael Pelech growing up. "They have genes in the family to be really good athletes. Obviously not surprised to see [Adam] turn out as good as he did."

Michael's game on Saturday was the 809th of his ECHL career, which is 50 shy of Sam Ftorek's league record. (Ftorek's father, Robbie, was Adam Pelech's coach with the OHL's Erie Otters from 2010-12.) Adam said Mike continues to be a role model for him with his dedication to the game.
"It's incredible and we're all proud of him. He's a guy who loves the game. He'll play as long as he can," Pelech said. "That was something I was able to take from him, his joy and excitement for the game and that helped me a lot when I was younger."
Between three hockey schedules and the restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it's a rare occurrence for the brothers to all be on the ice together. Matt figures the summer prior to the pandemic was the last time, so those moments are to be enjoyed - just like the All-Star Weekend.
"I know Matt is having a great time this weekend, I know it's pretty cool for him and he's enjoying it," I'm happy to be able to share moments like this with my family."