2017 Dads trip: Caps make special arrangements for TJ Oshie, whose father has Alzheimer’s

January 19, 2017 12:21 am

It’s the most wonderful time of the year. The 2017 Caps Dads trip has begun. The players’ fathers will travel with the team to St. Louis and Dallas to watch their sons play.

While this trip is always a very fun and special time, the Capitals made sure the trip was extra special for TJ Oshie. Oshie’s dad Tim, whom he affectionally calls “Coach” (he was TJ’s first coach), has been battling Alzheimer’s since at least 2012. The Caps made sure Oshie’s dad could come along by providing additional arrangements to have Oshie’s father-in-law make the trip to help out. Oshie thanked the team for traveling both of them.

Want some more coverage of the dads trip? You’re in luck, we have some extra info for you below.

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Jill Sorenson did a fantastic feature from Kettler as the dads arrived Wednesday.

“It doesn’t seem very long ago that your dad he was the one driving you from rink to rink at summer tournaments,” Brooks Orpik told Sorenson. “That was before GPS and cell phones, at least for me it was. Maybe not for Tom Wilson and Burkie, but for me it was. I remember pulling over at gas stations and pulling a paper map out.”

According to Sorenson, Head Coach Barry Trotz made a point during the team’s first meeting to tell the players and dads to not forget about mom.

“Send [her] a gift,” Sorenson said, recalling what Barry said. “Bring one back to your wife because they did a lot for your sons as well. And also take them out to a nice dinner.”

Next, Nate Schmidt spoke to John Walton about how excited his father was to join the team for the rest of the week.

Rinkside Update | @nateschmidt29 joins @waltoncaps to discuss the #CapsDads Road Trip. pic.twitter.com/Ana92yoqiF

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) January 18, 2017

Karl Alzner explained how the annual family event helps give the team extra motivation.

Caps Defenseman Karl Alzner talks about the boost the #CapsDads bring to a road trip. pic.twitter.com/NBCliEBOoF

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) January 18, 2017