Mom’s the word on road swing

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This article was published 18/01/2020 (1564 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Every day of the Winnipeg Jets’ three-game road swing will be mother’s day.

It’s the organization’s first ‘Mom’s Trip’ and the special guests will receive the kind of VIP status they undoubtedly deserve. The contingent includes moms of players, team staff and broadcasters who travel with the Jets.

Defenceman Josh Morrissey said he’s thrilled to have his mom, Bev Jarvis, along for the ride.

“Your parents do so much for you growing up to help get you to the next level, and more than just hockey, so it’s definitely going to be nice to have them with us, and, hopefully, we can put together a good road trip for them,” he said.

The moms will visit Chicago, Raleigh, N.C., and Columbus as their sons look to continue their solid play on the road this season (14-8-2). Following the trip, the Jets enjoy some time off for the NHL All-Star Weekend and their league-mandated break.

“It’s just cool to be able to share the experience of a road trip her, let her see what our lives are like on the road. We spend so much time in that environment and you can kind of try to describe it to your parents, but I think going on the team’s private plane and travelling a little bit differently than anyone of us would normally will be a cool experience for them. Hopefully, they bring us some good luck and we share a great road trip,” added Morrissey.

Last season, the ‘Dad’s Trip’ included stops in Nashville and Dallas.

Jarvis was a fixture in the stands as her son shone in minor hockey in Calgary, although she wasn’t a demonstrative hockey mom by nature.

“She wasn’t too loud. There were other moms a lot more vocal than her. A few times if she started to yell too loud, I remember getting on her case on the ride home, saying ‘Mom, tone it down,’” Josh said, laughing.

Adam Lowry’s mom, Elaine, is also on the trip. She’s not just a hockey mom, she’s a hockey wife, too. Husband Dave played over 1,000 NHL games with five different NHL clubs and also coached in the NHL and the Western Hockey League — including this season with the Brandon Wheat Kings.

“They both played huge roles in my development, in growing up and becoming the person that I am. I have a brother and two sisters, and my dad was on the road a lot so my mom had to coordinate with our schedules, shuttle us around constantly on the go, having to find time to cook us all dinner at different times, get there, and to be able to watch our games, keep up with the laundry in that household and stuff,” said Adam.

“She did an amazing job and on top of that, she has her own life and her interests and she’s doing marathons, Ironman (triathlons), stuff like that. She somehow found time for it all. I’m very lucky to call her my mom.”

jason.bell@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @WFPJasonBell