Fathers, Sons Come Together to Play on Ohio Team

Don Davis’ hockey career might be winding down, but he’s been able to accomplish so many things on the ice over the years.

One of his biggest thrills could be getting to play on an adult team with each of his four sons.

The 60-year-old is currently playing on Ray’s Canadiens through the league at Kent State University in Kent, Ohio, and he has three of his sons — Kenny Davis, Will Lyle and Bobby Lyle — on his team. Davis’ other son, Andy Davis, used to play on the team.

The Davis-Lyle clan is one of three father-son combinations on Ray’s Canadiens.

“It’s fun,” said Bobby Lyle, the youngest son at 27. “It means a lot to him to be able to play with his kids, and it means a lot to us as well.”

Having that father-son bond on the ice is big for Don Davis.

“You grow up teaching them and coaching them and just telling them to play hard,” said Davis, who isn’t playing as much after having knee replacement surgery. “Then all of a sudden one day you say you hope to be able to play on a good senior men’s team. We have a pretty good team. All the kids are pretty good, and the dads are pretty good.”

Ray’s Canadiens have been a solid group for a number of years. In the four-team A league — there are three division in the league — the guys have advanced to the championship game each of the last five years. The team won the title last year and in 2012, and they placed runner-up in ’13.

“Obviously, you try and be a good competitor, but at the same time everybody’s got to wake up and go to work the next day,” Lyle said. “It’s about being able to compete, but being able to go out and have fun with your friends, your brothers and having a nice little hockey Sunday.”

It’s not all about winning. The guys just love spending time together in a team atmosphere.

“Being in the locker room, hearing their boy stories and stuff like that and being able to hoist a few beers after the game,” said Davis, who has played in the Kent State league since 1985 and has been on Ray’s Canadiens since 2003.

“You’re building friends forever, really. My friends that are my age are my boys’ friends. It’s all about camaraderie. Not to mention it’s pretty fun and pretty good hockey as well.”

That camaraderie really shapes the team and makes it tick.

“It’s just a good group in the fact that it’s a lot more fun to play when there’s a lot of puck movement, and everyone’s feeding off of another as opposed to making it just an individual game,” Lyle said. “Our team is fun because we share the puck and it’s not just a one-man show. It makes it a lot more entertaining to play.”

It’s an interesting dynamic of ages on Ray’s Canadiens. With the mix of fathers and sons, there are about six players in their 20s, three or four in their 30s, three or four in their 50s, and Don at 60. The age gap doesn’t seem to affect their play.

“Hockey’s one of those sports when you grow up it’s not just a hobby, it’s more of a culture and tradition,” Lyle said. “It’s nice to be able to suit up with your father and brothers and go out and have a good time on the ice.”

Story from Red Line Editorial, Inc.