Mailbag #76: The Moms!

RALEIGH, NC. - For the first time since the 2018-19 season, the Canes' Mom's Trip returned this week.

Almost every player on the roster had their mom with them from Tuesday to Thursday, taking in practice and then traveling with the group to Boston for Wednesday's win before returning to Raleigh for a victory over the Devils.

We got to ask almost all of the special visitors questions about their sons this week, and for those who were interview-shy, we asked the players about their moms!

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For: Lynda Bunting

From: @xCanes23x

What is it like to walk into the arena and see so many people wearing your son's jerseys and holding signs for them?

It's very exciting and surreal. Like, it's actually unbelievable that it's all happened.

It's hard to believe that people are fans and will pay all that money for a jersey of his, but it's very cool.

He's got a unique number in 58, how do you feel about that?

I'm fine with it. I know he's had different numbers, but I actually enjoy it. I think it's a good one for him.

-

For: Peyton Burns (Brent's Daughter)

From: @K2theArl

Do you know what's in the backpack?

I do.

Without giving away all the secrets, what can you tell us?

He carries around his whole coffee set. He has those big puffy things that you put on your legs that massage your muscles before games [Normatec Recovery Systems] and his Theragun. But it's mainly coffee stuff.

He has to have this one special coffee mug. He loves it. It keeps your coffee warm, I guess. He really likes it.

Oh, and he takes his pillow.

How do you feel about the backpack?

Every time we travel and take it on a family vacation, it gets stopped for like 30 minutes and we have to wait.

They have to take something out and then they put it back in. Then they have to take something out. But, hey, if I ever need something, he's got it.

For: Tomara Chatfield

From: @RaleighCaniac

If your son were not playing hockey or in their retirement, what do they think they would do for a job/work/career?

Jalen would definitely be doing something fast-paced. He's a daredevil. He's not afraid of anything.

Maybe he'd be a pilot? He's really not afraid of anything and he wouldn't want to be doing a normal, everyday thing.

-

For: Liz Drury

From: @maggiesketchess

What's it like witnessing Jack succeed in sports just like you and Ted?

Well, I think he's a better athlete than we were, to be honest.

But it's super fun because he loves it so much and he always has. And we love that.

It's just awesome.

You've already gotten to see him win a couple of championships, how cool has that been?

It's so cool. It's really rare, right? So he's lucky and we've told him all along to enjoy it.

-

For: Eva Fast

From: @hatfieldvmccoy

With your child playing hockey at the professional level and achieving a childhood dream, what is one wish they have for them once their careers are over?

He has two children and I know he'll take care of them. I don't know what he'll do when he's done playing, but he'll figure it out. I know he'll take care of his children though.

-

For: Tracy Shields Jarvis

From: @apritch61

If Seth had gone the college route, what could you see him majoring in?

Well, not art, that's for sure. Probably Physical Education or something to do with construction.

He used to love when he was little all the trucks and all the heavy machinery. He would just sit for hours and watch them, and he never sat still for anything. He could sit there all day and just watch it all.

For: Brendan Lemieux's Mom

From: @crazy4aho

What was your son's favorite bedtime story growing up?

Honestly, it was probably the prayers that we did every night.

I'm from North Carolina, so we had a lot of typical Southern prayers that we'd say.

-

For: Karen Martin

From: @twistedhipsies

Was there any hesitation or worry about having your boys be a goalie, of all positions?

Yes, of course. My husband and I tried to persuade him to be a skater, but he was set on being a goalie.

He wanted to be a goalie since the age of 4 and that was just kind of it.

For: Stefan Noesen's Mom

From: @Th_Izzo

What would you say is your son’s greatest quality?

I'm going to say it's that he has an inconspicuous big heart.

His whole life, he doesn't want anyone to know that he has a big heart. Whenever someone gets hurt, he's the first person there. We used to call him Dr. Noesen growing up.

I mean, he would hit somebody, just obliterate them, but then he'd be right there checking on them. Every single time.

He doesn't want everyone to know that he has a big heart, but he definitely does.

-

For: Wendi Slavin

From: @TVonhaam

You got to see your son play in an All-Star Game. What was your favorite part about that?

The whole experience was super awesome, but I think watching him win in the Skills Competition was the best.

We had the little artificial ice surface set up in our basement when he was younger and we knew how much he'd practice, so just to see it pay off right in front of us was really, really rewarding.

-

For: Michele Skjei

From: @shanamichelle5

How did you feel when Brady decided to pursue hockey instead of football?

I was very happy. I was a figure skater myself, so I was happy to see that he wanted to be on the ice.

The rest of our family, my husband, his dad, and both of his grandfathers, all played football, so I think it was tougher for them.

He had a lot of good friends that he really enjoyed playing football with too but his heart was in hockey from day one. It all worked out.

-

For: Linda Staal

From: @BeckyDanielNC

What was it like supporting multiple kids who were exceptionally talented hockey players? How did you juggle the schedules while also keeping them fed?? Did you still have time for family time, school & friends?

It was very busy, but it was fun to do it all. Maybe I didn't have much time for myself, but that didn't really bother me. I have time now and I can enjoy [them playing].

It was just fun being around them, seeing them do what they loved to do, and for it all to work out like this.

For The Boys... Tell Us Why (Or What) You Love Your Mom!

Jesperi Kotkaniemi

"She really knows what she wants in life.  She's the smartest one in our family, for sure.  She's the leader.  She's always positive and she talks a lot.  There's never a bad moment with her."

Martin Necas

"How much she cares.  Always.  She watches every game with my dad and they just care so much about how and what I do.  Without them, I wouldn't be here.  It was kind of their dream for me to make it here too and now I can spoil them a little bit too, so that's nice."

Antti Raanta

"Everything.  If someone says I talk a lot, she talks more.  She's just the best there is.  It's awesome to have her along and to see what we do on the road.  She's a great human being."

Teuvo Teravainen

"I love her homemade meals and her cooking.  Anything she makes is good.  Traditional Finnish food is the best."

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