NHL To Pause Annual Fathers’ & Mothers’ Trips Due To COVID-19 Concerns

Another reminder that the idea of ‘back to normal’ for the National Hockey League remains very fluid is the news that the NHL has put a moratorium on popular special events like fathers’ trips during the 2021-22 season because of continued concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic.

Multiple team and league sources confirmed to DailyFaceoff.com that the NHL has informed teams that they are not to plan what has become an annual tradition for many teams, a road trip when fathers — or mothers — of players, coaches and staff join the team because of concerns over possible outbreaks of COVID-19 among NHL teams.

Even though only a handful of NHL players remained unvaccinated as the regular season began this week and all NHL staff who have any contact with players must be vaccinated, per league protocols, it was decided the risk was too high. That having fathers, mothers or other close friends travel with teams for a few days, as well as sitting in on meetings, having meals and attending other team events, wasn’t worth the risk.

The NHL and the NHLPA worked together in constructing COVID-19 protocols they believe will ensure a seamless unfolding of the current regular 82-game schedule of games for all 32 NHL teams. With family and/or friends potentially traveling from Europe and all points in North America to take part in fathers’ trips etc. the ability to control the additional bodies was deemed too great especially when considering that such trips might be replicated 20 to 30 times around the league.

Given how dramatically outbreaks of COVID-19 impacted the schedule a year ago especially for teams like Dallas, Buffalo and Vancouver, the decision to hold off these special trips is understandable. Still, it will be disappointing as most NHL teams used these events as a kind of bonding moment for the team and for many teams they have become highlight moments on the regular season schedule.

The genesis of the fathers’ trip movement is credited to Nashville GM David Poile and then head coach Barry Trotz early in the Predators’ existence.

The two acknowledged that the expansion Predators weren’t likely going to be very good and were thinking of ways to make the long first season bearable for the players and staff and came up with the idea of inviting fathers along for a road trip.

The first Predators dads’ trip saw them take in games in Buffalo and New Jersey.

Now teams tend to schedule these trips around trips to more exotic locations like Florida, California or Las Vegas.

While the majority of team trips still involve fathers (or father figures) a number of teams have broadened the concept to include mothers (and mother figures) or mentors to join the team on the road for a few days.

The expectation is that next season the green light will be given to teams to schedule these trips.