Two sets of local brothers are hoping to contribute their part to their extended family known as the Brandon varsity hockey team.
Ryan and Sean Doyle, as well as Jeff and Doug Hammond, say they are getting to know each other better as teammates for the Blackhawks, who opened their season with a 7-4 win against Allen Park Cabrini Nov. 18.
Jeff Hammond and Sean Doyle, both seniors, are the older siblings of the two pairs, while Doug Hammond, a sophomore, and Ryan Doyle, a junior, learn from their older brothers as they contribute to the Blackhawks.
Jeff Hammond, 18, started in goal for the Blackhawks in their opening-game win, and has been with the Blackhawks? varsity ever since his freshman year. He said he started playing hockey when he was about 10, and played in leagues in Ice Mountain, the Polar Palace and Iceland arenas prior to joining the Blackhawks.
He said he agrees it is fun to spend time on the team with brother Doug. ‘We get a lot of bonding time together,? he said.
Jeff said his favorite goaltender of all time is retired goalie Patrick Roy, recently elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame (‘he’s probably the best goalie ever?), while his current favorite is Manny Legace, formerly with the Detroit Red Wings and now with the St. Louis Blues.
Meanwhile, Doug, 15, said he first became interested in hockey when his brother started playing, which meant that Doug was about seven years old when he started.
‘It’s fun practicing shooting against him since he’s a goalie,? Doug said of playing against his older brother.
He said his favorite player of all-time is Hall of Famer Wayne Gretzky, holder of several National Hockey League records. ‘He was the best,? Jeff said.
While the Hammond brothers started playing hockey when they were in their grade school years, Sean Doyle, 17, said he couldn’t remember exactly when he first started.
‘Probably when I was three or four years old,? he said.
Nonetheless, he said he and brother Ryan have spent many a day sharing a rink. ‘I’ve played all my life, and we’ve played together all our lives,? he said.
The two brothers have played on travel teams with Iceland and Ice Mountain arenas before joining the Blackhawks.
‘We have lot of fun, and we learn to communicate on and off the ice, and when we’re at home,? Sean said.
Growing up, Sean said his favorite players were former Red Wings Steve Yzerman and Sergei Fedorov, but now, his favorite players are linemates Chris Nelson and Blake McLellan.
Ryan Doyle, 16, admitted there have been times when he and his brother have battled on the ice, but overall, the two enjoy playing together and working toward their team’s success.
Like his older brother, Ryan said growing up, he looked up to Fedorov and current Red Wing Kirk Maltby. ‘I liked Maltby ? he’d just go in and do what he had to,? he said. ‘Fedorov was fast.?
Right now, though, he looks up to Brandon captains Brandon Newman and Matt Cinader.
Jeff Hammond summed up the relationship he has with Doug, as well as the relationship between the Doyle brothers, in a larger context.
‘We may be blood brothers, but I’d say the whole team are brothers,? he said.
All four brothers also agree their shared goal is to repeat as Flint Metro League champions and contend for a state championship.