Tom Wilson and his son, Teddy. (Capitals/Instagram)
ARLINGTON, V.A. — “Teddy does Milan!” Tom Wilson excitedly told me when I asked if the Washington Capitals alternate captain would have his family joining him for the Winter Olympics in Milan Cortina.
Wilson and teammate Logan Thompson will travel together to Italy on Saturday as they prepare for their first Games with Team Canada, but their families will also make the trip over.
For Wilson, wife, Taylor, and 20-month-old son, Teddy, will be in the stands as he looks to capture his first gold medal, something that makes the experience and “trip of a lifetime” even more memorable for No. 43.
“I’m really looking forward to sharing all that with my family,” Wilson said. “They deserve to be there just as much as I do. They’ve helped me so much, and they hold it done at home.”
Wilson has seen his son fall in love with the game of hockey early on; Teddy is often at the rink running around with a hockey stick in hand, a right shot like his dad (Wilson calls it his “emotional support hockey stick”). At bedtime, when it’s just Wilson taking over the duties, the two will read hockey books, one of the only things that calms Teddy down.
“He loves everything about the game right now. Hockey, ice, stick, puck, whatever. He’s buzzing and loves it, and it just brings a smile to your face as a dad,” Wilson shared. “I think there’s a joy playing in the NHL, it’s the best job in the world, but when you get to do it with your family and share it with the ones you love most, it just makes it even more special.”
While Teddy may not remember every sight he sees in Milan at such a young age, it’s a memory that he and Wilson will be able to share for the rest of their lives.
Meanwhile, Thompson, who doesn’t have kids yet, will be bringing his mom and dad overseas with him to cheer him on.
It’s been a long road to the Games for the Calgary native, who went undrafted and, even after being told to go to school and that he more than likely wouldn’t go pro, refused to give up and ultimately rose to prominence as one of the NHL’s top netminders.
Growing up, Thompson was all in on Team Canada, and watching Sidney Crosby’s “Golden Goal” on television, assisted by Thompson’s idol in Flames captain Jarome Iginla, inspired him to want to follow in those footsteps.
Now, he’ll get his chance with his parents in tow.
“It’s a dream come true,” Thompson said of getting to represent his country. “You know, I’m just going to go there and soak it all in and do any role they want me to, whether that’s practice goalie, backup, hand out the water bottles. I’m just going to be happy to be there and going to do whatever I can.”
Beyond Team Canada, Washington has one more representative at the upcoming Games in Martin Fehervary.
The Team Slovakia blueliner will be playing in his first-ever Olympics after a hectic road there. At the start of the season, he made his return from meniscus surgery, and then, after a long road trip out west, returned for the birth of his daughter, Anna, right before the break.
“It was really hectic,” Fehervary laughed. “It’s just a lot of things going on right now…it’s obviously hard, but it’s also exciting as well.”
Since Anna is so young, Fehervary will leave for Italy on his own, but plans to keep in touch and follow along with his family and newborn daughter back home. Before leaving, he’s also going to soak in as much time as he can with family before heading over.
“(I’m looking forward to) the atmosphere over there. It’s a first time having that kind of experience for me and the other sports and other competition and huge tournament playing against the best hockey players… it’s something really special,” Fehervary said. “It’s just something new for me. Overall, I feel like it’s going to be a great experience.”
The men’s hockey tournament begins on Wednesday.