Stachiws bring brotherly love to the Eagles

Posted by Shawn Slaght on October 06, 2009

When Thomas Stachiw requested a trade from the Calgary Royals to the Canmore Eagles, he wanted one last opportunity to play hockey also side his younger brother Chris.

With a three-year age difference, 20-year-old Thomas and 17-year-old Chris grew up in Calgary but never played on the same team together.

“We just played with each other in charity games, practiced every once in a while or going out on the outdoor rink,” said Thomas. “We used to have an outdoor rink in our backyard, so we used to play a lot out there.”

On the other hand, the younger brother Chris remembered going to watch Thomas play hockey as a child.

“I love it so far (playing with Thomas). It was a little bit weird in the beginning,” said Chris. “I used to watch his games as a little kid, but now I get to play with him.”

Thomas spent the past two seasons with the Royals and acted as their captain last season. Unhappy with the situation in Calgary, he knew there was only one other team he wanted to play for.

“He is one of the main reasons why I wanted to come out here and play hockey, to introduce him to the league,” said Thomas.

“Thomas brings a lot of leadership to our hockey club,” said Eagles head coach and general manager Andrew Milne. “He has been a captain of a Junior A hockey club before and has experience in the league.”

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However, Chris was taken a bit off guard when he found out that the Eagles had traded to bring his older brother in.

“I was actually very surprised,” said Chris. “That was really motivated me to make the team this year because I really wanted to play with him in this last year if he didn’t get a scholarship. I knew that would mean a lot to him.”

Chris was a reserve player for the Eagles last season and saw limited actions in Canmore.

“Chris is a very competitive guy,” said Milne. “He’s willing to compete and work for pucks. Defensively, he knows he has some improvements on his game. Down the road we think he can be a top defenseman in this league.”

Milne felt it is huge to have Thomas on board to help is younger brother and the fact that Thomas can bring experience to the rest of the younger players as well.

Thomas said he and Chris play two different styles of the game, but he tries to help out as much as he can.

“He is more of an offensively minded defenseman who moves the puck and I’m more of a stay-at-home d-man,” said Thomas. “So we contrast each other very well.”

Thomas and Chris had the opportunity to man the blue line together once this season and both felt it was a great feeling to finally get to play hockey with each other.

The brothers are also billeted together for the season while Thomas helps his brother, as well as the other younger players, into the system.

“It is a pretty big step,” said Thomas. “He played with Edge Varsity last year. I’m just trying to help him make the transition a little bit easier.”

Inside the locker room, Thomas and Chris have a bit of a special bond. One that head coach and general manager Andrew Milne describes as “brotherly love.”

“Every time we talk about a locker room we are talking about a family,” said Milne. “We become a family over time. Obviously, there is some brotherly love and I expect them to gotat her just like any other situation between two brothers who are competitive.”

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