The Vancouver Canucks made headlines in Nashville yesterday after their social media post implied that the locker rooms at Centennial Sportsplex in downtown Nashville weren’t “proper” enough for the visiting NHL team:
What most don’t know is the true story behind some unlikely heroes that came to the aid of the beleaguered hockey team. I caught up with them this morning after they dropped their kids off at school.
Erin O’Connell doesn’t consider herself a hero, but the Vancouver Canucks may beg to differ after the local hockey mom stepped in when things didn’t go their way in Nashville on Monday. “I heard those boys didn’t have a proper locker room to get ready in,” began O’Connell, “so, I messaged the girls and we just came running!” Driving would be a better way to put it as O’Connell put the word out to the rest of the Moms on her son’s 12U hockey team’s group messenger. The combined second-row seats and cargo areas of their collective mini-vans gave the Canucks the precious space they needed in order to get ready for their practice Monday afternoon.
“It wasn’t a big deal,” said Suzette Schroeder, “we just live down the road–made it here in 7 minutes.” Suzette knows all too well the grind of getting ready for hockey practice on the run as she’s used to hauling two sons (Skyler and Gunner) and a daughter (Oakleigh) to a variety of practices all across the greater Nashville area. “Between Centennial, Ford Ice Antioch, and that rink out in Nolensville [The Gary Force Acura Ice Arena], you’d think I’d have my own parking space!” Schroeder’s not kidding as her mini-van (a silver 2019 Honda Odyssey with leather seats) looks to be overflowing with hockey bags, goalie gear, sticks, and several empty bottles of Prime. When asked if the overflowing cargo area was a hindrance to the NHLers, Schroeder replied, “Oh no, Ian Cole and Filip Hronek made themselves right at home in the middle-row captain’s chairs. Ian even borrowed some of Gunner’s hockey tape!”
The call came as a bit of a surprise to Gina Park, “I was working around the house when I got Erin’s message on Team Snap. I was just happy to help, especially when I heard about what those poor boys were going through. I just couldn’t believe it! One minute I’m trying to air out Broderick’s gear and a few minutes later, I’m helping tie Andrei Kuzmenko’s skates in the back of my mini-van!”
And, while Sheri Downing didn’t make it in time to host the likes of Pius Suter or Nils Hoglander in her maroon 2021 Kia Sedona before practice, she got there in plenty of time to make sure they had everything they needed to ensure a high-quality post-practice experience. “I was too far out,” she began, “I was at the Perani’s at Ford Ice Bellevue getting Phoenix’s skates sharpened. But as soon as they were ready, I hauled it over to Publix to pick up Bio-Steel and orange slices. Those boys needed to refuel after a hard practice, especially if they want to be ready for their big game against the Preds on Tuesday!”
I asked Robyn Cross, who was shocked to help Brock Boeser tape his socks in her fully loaded Sunset Bronze 2023 Toyota Sienna Hybrid, if the moms would be ready if the Canucks needed them again before Tuesday’s game. “Well, I exchanged numbers with [Canucks Head Coach] Rick [Tocchet]. If Bridgestone Arena’s visitors’ locker room isn’t up to snuff, we’ll be back. And if they give us enough notice, we’ll even throw all our kids’ gear out into the garage before we show up this time.”
I followed up with Erin on this note, “Don’t worry, if the Vancouver Canucks need to call on us again, the 12U Nashville Assassins moms will be ready!” Mrs. O’Connell assured me that all mini-vans present had heated leather seats, “we have a few families whose vans have unheated leather seats, even cloth seats, but we didn’t bother to let them know this was happening.”
Of course, I couldn’t help but ask Mrs. O’Connell if her caravan of mini-vans was just a chance to gain some social media clout. “Oh no,” she laughed, “whether they’re in Peewee or the pros, hockey boys just need a mama when things get too rough.”
