Video: When Mike Knuble isn't scoring goals for the Washington Capitals in front of thousands of fans, he's making sure that his own children are on time for their lacrosse and hockey games.
When the Capitals practice on weekends, it’s not unusual to see the Knuble boys wandering the dressing room or having the rink to themselves afterward.
“It’s really good because I get to learn from my dad and a lot of the pros,” Cam Knuble said. “They can teach me how to do things the way they do them. I can also get a lot of extra ice time after [the Capitals’] practices.”
Cole added: “I like it better than normal because he’s out there.”
They are not the only beneficiaries. Their teammates and coaches also get ample face time with a star who enjoys sharing the knowledge and stories he’s accumulated over the course of 980 games.
“I went in the locker room a little bit early [before a recent practice] to make sure kids were ready, and there was Mike, just telling stories,” Jablonic said. “The kids all had smiles on their faces. They were talking about one of the kid’s sticks. It was nothing too technical. But it’s so invaluable to have a professional that’s played in the league so long in there giving the kids a little bit of advice. That was so cool.”
Being a hockey dad, though, has also benefited Knuble. In the intense world of professional sports he navigates daily, he said it’s a pressure valve. When he’s watching his children’s games, he’s not thinking about his job.
Knuble worked on his conditioning over the summer and reported to camp in top shape. Through the season’s first 12 games, he has two goals and five assists and is tied for fifth on the Capitals in scoring with seven points. He wants to play several more seasons, but he also knows his performance over the next few months could determine whether his career continues in Washington. His one-year, $2 million deal expires in July.
“My career has probably benefited from it because you don’t have just your own hockey” to obsess about, Knuble said. “You’re not just beating yourself up about things. There’s other things to think about.”
The likelihood of a 6 a.m. practice or game also gets him to bed earlier than most of his teammates, all of whom are younger, many of whom are single.
“He will come home instead of going out,” Megan Knuble said. “Maybe it’s because he’s already done that. He’s already gone out. He’s over it. But maybe it does prolong your career. . . . We eat good meals. We go to bed at a decent time.”
That’s a good idea for any professional athlete pushing 40. It’s especially good for one who keeps a schedule as chaotic as Knuble’s.
“Hockey is a lifestyle,” he said. “It’s not just showing up and playing games. It separates your family at times. There’s a lot that goes into being a hockey parent.”
As he thumbed through the calendar app on his phone, he looked up and said: “It beats sitting on a couch and trying to nap. I like to be up and going and staying busy.”
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