'We're so proud of our boys'

The Detroit Red Wings' charter plane, team meetings and postgame bus rides last week were a bit more crowded than usual.

From Jan. 25-27, the Red Wings players, coaches and training staff welcomed their respective fathers and mentors for the club's road trip against the Montreal Canadiens and New York Islanders.
As memorable as the Fathers and Mentors trip is each season for the players, it is equally as special for the guests themselves.
"We're so proud of our boys," Kevin Larkin, father of Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin, told
DetroitRedWings.com
. "To wear this jersey and see our kids on the ice, all of the dads have the same story -that we're proud."

For three days, the dads experienced every aspect of life on the road in the NHL - from team breakfasts to morning skates, to enjoying the games from a suite and traveling in style on Red Bird III.
Head coach Derek Lalonde said meeting some of his players' fathers, like Kay Seider, were "neat, awesome experiences."
"The first father I met was (Moritz Seider) Mo's," Lalonde said. "He comes right up to me and goes, 'Hey, I'm Seider.' And I'm like, 'What are you, a music star? Like no first name? Seal? Bono?'"
Ironically, Kay Seider became a social media sensation on Jan. 26 when the Red Wings' channels shared clips of him cheering and leading chants in a Bell Centre suite during Detroit's game against Montreal.

"You know what's so cool about this is that it's a whole new crop of players and dads," Kevin Larkin said. "They're a fun group."
For Andy Copp, the father of Andrew Copp, the trip was an opportunity to forge new friendships within the Red Wings family.
"Most of the players don't live or are from Detroit," said Andy Copp, who raised his family in nearby Ann Arbor, Mich. "I know Larks is, but I didn't know any of the other dads. It's been great to meet all the guys. It's a great group."
When asked what life is like as a hockey dad, Andy Copp said supporting his son is a rewarding experience.
"I coached him for a long time," he said. "I always had the coach hat on, almost more than a dad, as far as his hockey was concerned. But even since I stopped coaching him, I watch him half as a dad and half as a coach critiquing his play. We talk after every game about details of the game. It's fun."

Derek Lalonde's father, Jack Lalonde, also joined the Red Wings for the two-game trip. And according to Derek Lalonde, his dad's support has never wavered.
"My dad barely says boo," Lalonde said. "He just enjoys hanging out. Even when I played different sports growing up, he never said boo - which was awesome about his personality. I've kind of reflected it."
When asked if he notices similarities between the fathers and their sons, Kevin Larkin laughed.
"The apple doesn't fall too far from the tree."