Phantoms’ Paetsch coaches against son
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Tuesday's Youngstown Phantoms game doubled as a family reunion.
Not only did Phantoms captain Malachi McKinnon suited up against his brother, Maverick, but Youngstown's man behind the bench had his own reunion as well.
First-year coach Nathan Paetsch had a new experience as he coached against his son, Kellen, for the first time against the US National Team Development Program.
Kellen, a 15-year old right-shot defenseman, is on the NTDP roster in his first season. He and the younger McKinnon were both in the starting lineup on Tuesday.
"In the jersey alone, and just seeing him skate out in the starting lineup with that jersey on, I mean, talk about a proud dad moment," Nathan Paetsch said. "I haven’t been able to see him live yet. That was my first time. Obviously, I’ve watched his games over video, but seeing him skate out right off the bat wearing that jersey, I mean, the work he’s put in to get to this point is a lot. I know what he sacrificed and what he’s done in the last couple of years, and I was just so proud of him."
Nathan Paetsch couldn't let the emotions bog him down, however. At the end of the day, he still needed to coach his team to a win and not let the spectacle of things take over. By the end of the game, the Phantoms had established a sizable lead, allowing Nathan Paetsch to exhale and enjoy watching his son play.
"It was such a unique thing to go through, and there’s a lot of emotions," Nathan Paetsch said. "Having to coach my team, wanting to make sure we’re prepared, and obviously win, and then try not to see my son out there. As a natural parent, you go to games, you just watch your kid, and I had a hard time. I didn’t really see him because I was focusing on running the bench, running our team. When the third period came and we had a little more control, I actually saw a little more and focused in on a couple of shifts when I could kind of relax and breathe a little."
Standing at 6-foot-3, the younger Paetsch already has his dad beat in the height department, and most of his teammates. Not something coach Paetsch (6-foot-1) is taking credit for.
"He’s a tall boy, and you have to thank my wife for that," Nathan Paetsch said. "At home, my wife and my son call me 'Stumpy' because I got short little legs. (My wife) has a tall family, so he definitely gets his height from his mom."
He was never forced into any sport, hockey included, but Kellen eventually gravitated toward the game.
That led to the two teaming up, with Nathan Paetsch coaching his son on the Rochester Americans 13U AAA team.
"It was special just being with him," Kellen Paetsch said. "If you score a goal or something, and just being able to look back and give him a fist bump, and just seeing that he’s always been proud of me, that just means the world."
Having a former professional hockey player as a dad gives Kellen Paetsch a valuable resource.
"He’s always open to give me tips and advice," Kellen Paetsch said. "I’d say he just helped me when I was younger. We never really did a ton of skills. It was more just teaching me the game and how to play the game the right way. He’s always been super helpful."
Kellen Paetsch and the U17s play again on Sunday at home against the Dubuque Fighting Saints.
Youngstown closes a two-game series today against the Muskegon Lumberjacks.