Today, only 13 players hailing from Texas have ever played a game in the NHL.
Blake included – in a career that spans more than 500 games and a pair of Stanley Cup championships.
That, alone, is a lifetime’s worth of memories.
But as both stood at his locker at the Honda Center in Anaheim, memories of his childhood – of course – came flooding back.
“Rocky Mountain Regionals in Boise, Idaho,” Sandy, instinctively, said of her favourite youth-hockey memory. “We were an underdog team. We weren’t supposed to win. And he scored in triple overtime.
“He could barely stand at that point, because by then, they were playing about a line and a half of forwards.
“There was a guy on the other team that we’d done all this coaching around because he was a phenomenal player and he was always wanting to fight and get into it, and they were chatting in the faceoff circle.
“I asked Blake after the game, ‘What were you talking to Ryan about?’ He said they were both so exhausted, they could barely move. They were coached to rile him up, but instead they were commiserating over how exhausted they were.
“So, after everything they went through – and for Blake to score the game-winner – that was the best.
“Especially with how unexpected it was.”
“It sent us to the national tournament,” Blake adds with a wink.
Hilariously, when asked to recall his favourite memory of his mom and the impact she’s had on his career, the Rocky Mountain Regionls, again, live prominently in the mind’s eye.
But for very different reasons.
“It was that tournament when my mom had her first margarita,” Blake laughs. “Minus the celebration after, she’s a bit of a lightweight when it comes to the alcohol. One drink and she was hugging and kissing everybody. Just really happy to be there.”
“Oh yeah,” Sandy laughs. “Plenty of high-fives that night.”
“Clearly, I always remember the off-ice stuff more,” Blake adds. “When I’m on the ice, I don’t see much. But I remember the celebration and the fact that she was having a drink at all must have meant that she was pretty excited.”
Time will tell if a big goal or a pair of victories this week will set off a similar reaction …
But for now, the two will spend time creating new memories together with an off night in Anaheim, before business picks up again on Tuesday against the Ducks.
For this certified hockey mom, it’s a well-earned vacation.
“I’m most grateful for the equipment staff here,” Sandy said. “What they do …
“You see, Blake wore Graf skates as a kid. But you could never get them in the States. I got him his first pair, so I started that. It’s my fault! But he loved them. So, we would literally go to Canada every time he needed a new pair, bake them, the whole thing.
“Usually, we would plan it around tournaments and that way, we didn’t have to make an extra trip. But I’d always call ahead and make sure they had his size and make time.
“Blake’s a little persnickety about his equipment – so, the fact that I don’t have to go find his broken sticks and all those things now, it’s pretty nice.”
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