Mothers of Blackhawks players will travel to Florida to watch the team play the Panthers and Lightning. A tale with visuals.

When the Chicago Blackhawks travel to Tampa on Thursday to play the Lightning and then to Sunrise, Florida on Sunday for a rematch with the Panthers, they will bring their mothers along.

Melanie, Connor Bedard’s mother, is reportedly “super-pumped” to be joining the team for their fling. The rookie, who is eighteen, is glad to have his mother present as well. On Monday, she arrived in Chicago.  View the video.

“I’m excited to spend time with her and have her on the trip and kind of experience the stuff we do,” Bedard said after Tuesday’s practice. “I think they’ve got some stuff planned for them during our game days or whatever, so you know they’ll have a good time.”

The 2023 NHL draft pick is also happy that his mother stopped by to lend a hand in the kitchen before the team boarded a chartered jet and checked into upscale hotels.

“Everyone’s probably happy for the cooking for tonight,” Bedard stated.

However, Bedard mentioned that he’s been practicing cooking for himself. He admitted that when he first moved to Chicago, he occasionally relied on Melanie’s FaceTime assistance for long-distance recipe assistance.

“I’ve been pretty good lately, I’m not going to lie,” Bedard replied. “I’ve been winging it, but I’m getting better.

“I’m not a pro at all, but when I’m alone, it’s kind of fun so far,” Bedard said. “I mean the honeymoon phase, but I don’t get sick of it. But it’s good to have her here to cook for me as well.”

By the way, veteran defenseman Connor Murphy, the other “Connor” on the Blackhawks, says he enjoys traveling with his mom because, unlike dads, mothers don’t worry as much about winning and losing.

This might be coach Luke Richardson’s first “mom’s trip,” as he didn’t have them on any of the teams he played or worked for in the past. But Richardson has traveled since family members became members of the club.

“(You see) players with their parents or siblings or mentors, whoever comes,” said Richardson. “They interact with the other individuals who are narrating stories. You truly develop and get to know one another in this way.”

Family members can also learn about the players’ schedules, jobs, and an  “NHL lifestyle.””Sometimes we complain about the schedule or travel,” Richardson said. “But when they come and see we’re staying at the Four Seasons or someplace like that, they don’t have any empathy for you anymore.”