'Like a Brotherhood:' For Preds Forward Cody Glass, Family is Everything

Back in October, a scene from NHL Network's "Behind The Glass" went viral when Cody Glass was told he had made the Nashville Predators roster out of training camp - and for good reason.
Cody's girlfriend, Bailey, recalls him coming home that day and saying, sheepishly, "Well, I cried today - and I think they're going to put it on TV."

"He's a good young player," Preds Head Coach John Hynes said of Cody. "Now he's showing that he's got that kind of determination and mental toughness to make it. When we told him he made the team this year, he was in tears just because of the amount of work that he's put in."
In demonstrating the type of raw emotion and vulnerability we don't often see from professional hockey players, Cody's reaction to the news was the culmination of years of tribulation both on and off the ice - but he never had to face an obstacle alone.
Indeed, you can't talk about Cody Glass without mentioning his father, Jeff, and his older brother, Matthew.
"I'm their dad, but -," Jeff paused. "It's different. We're really close. They don't hesitate to tell me everything."
The bond shared by the three men is strong, and it's strengthened further through the many hardships they have weathered together.
"As long as I can remember, it's been us three," Matthew said. "It seemed like whatever the world threw at us, we always had each other to rely on. It's been. I couldn't have asked for better family members growing up. We're also supportive of one another, and whenever I ask them for anything, they're always around."

Following Jeff's divorce from Cody and Matthew's mother in 2010, the three moved in with Jeff's mother, Judy, who helped raise the boys. In 2016, Cody was trying out for Team Canada, hoping to play in the Ivan Hlinka tournament in the Czech Republic, but he was cut from the final roster. Shortly after that, Judy passed away, leaving Jeff, Cody and Matthew to manage on their own.
The following year, Cody made history as the first-ever draft pick in Vegas Golden Knights franchise history when he was selected No. 6 overall in the 2017 NHL Draft. He made his NHL debut with Vegas in 2019 and, after an injury-riddled rookie season, he suffered a season-ending knee injury requiring surgery in March 2020.
Then, the Covid-19 pandemic hit, hindering Cody's ability to rehab and train like he otherwise would. He arrived in Nashville in July 2021 as part of a three-way trade but was assigned to the AHL's Milwaukee Admirals for the 2021-22 season. Now, he's finally getting his shot at becoming an NHL mainstay, and the magnitude of the opportunity is not lost on him - nor on those who have been with him along the way.
"You know what it was?" Hynes paused to reflect when asked why Cody making the team this year was especially meaningful to him as a coach. "It's because you've gone through it with him a little bit. He got traded here when he was coming off the injury, and he made the team originally a year ago. Then we sent them down to the American League, and he was really devastated by that. He went down to the American League, and he had a good season. He came up and played in the Colorado series last year in the playoffs, and he looked good. We were really excited about him because he just saw the growth that he needed at that time in the American League to come up and play. Then he went back home this summer, he trained hard, and his goal was to come in and make the team. So I think that just to see how much he cared and how much it meant to him is also a tribute to how much effort he put in to put himself in that position."
So, after all that, is it any wonder that Cody cried when he made the team out of camp this year?
"He definitely gets that from me," Jeff chuckled, referring to Cody's tearful tendencies. "Seeing his reaction in that video, I completely get it. When he was home during the summer, I've never seen him work so hard. I was amazed. And it's hard because he's someone that's tried and he's always had these setbacks… He's always had these things to overcome, and he doesn't give up."
At just 23 years old, Cody is quick to credit Jeff's example as one of the reasons for his emotional maturity in the face of challenges.
"When I was growing up, he was kind of my rock," Cody said. "But I think as the years went on, he's kind of shown a softer side, which is nice. And I think I get my emotional side from him. Sometimes I would like to hide it better, but obviously it's kind of those things where you're just very prideful and I think when you're one with your emotions that's a good thing."
Those emotions were running high on Thursday, when the Predators played the Jets in Cody's hometown of Winnipeg - his first time playing an NHL game in the place where he grew up. Dozens of his aunts, uncles, cousins and friends filled the stands at Canada Life Centre, but Cody was most excited to share the experience with Jeff and Matthew.

"It's more like a brotherhood," Cody said. "They've been there for me my whole career. So to be able to share this moment - it was also their dream for me to make it to the NHL, so I think they appreciate this just as much as I do."
As he looked on during warmups ahead of Thursday's game, donning Cody's No. 8 Predators jersey, Matthew couldn't help but smile.
"As kids and when we were younger, obviously we went through a lot," Matthew said. "We've relied on each other quite a bit. But to see him at this stage now… is just a great step in his career. I'm so happy to see him here."
Nothing has come easy for Cody or his family. But the work ethic instilled in him by his father and brother has undoubtedly served him well, both in hockey and in life.
"He's a guy that wants it really bad," Hynes said. "And the thing I like about him is that it seems as though he's willing to do the hard things it takes to earn a lineup spot and stay in the lineup."
Making an NHL roster was far from the first challenge Cody had faced, and it certainly won't be the last. As he continues to fight every day to earn his spot on this Predators team, his original team - Jeff and Matthew - will be with him every step of the way.