Kayleigh Jackson: How do you balance hockey and your family life away from the rink?
Eric Staal: Whenever I have the opportunity to spend time with the family or make something work as a group, as a family, to try and make that happen - our schedule is pretty compact and busy throughout the hockey season. My wife does do a lot, so whenever there's that off day or opportunity to maybe take the kids somewhere fun, we try to take advantage of that because during the course of a hockey season that can be hard to do.
KJ: Are the boys really getting into hockey on their own yet?
ES: My two older ones play minor hockey here in the Cities and so whenever I can be at their practice or their game, I love it. I enjoy just watching them and kind of reliving a little bit of my childhood and reliving growing up in that atmosphere and seeing them go through it. It's pretty fun just being at the rink and just being a hockey dad just like everybody else that does it, it's pretty special.
KJ: What's one of your favorite memories from growing up in that environment?
ES: Having three brothers and being outside and playing at the outdoor rink is probably the biggest memory and most satisfying memory that I have growing up. We spent a lot of time outside and together and there's something about being outside in the fresh air playing hockey -- people that have done it and people that know what that's like and understand that feeling know those are memories and special things you always keep.
KJ: What's your favorite thing to do in the Twin Cities?
ES: For me, because all three of my kids are at the perfect age to enjoy it, there's an indoor park called Edinborough Park [in Edina] -- I just kind of get to sit and watch -- they've dragged me up there a few times but there's a ton of slides and kind of a jungle gym play area so we spend time there. They love it and I enjoy watching them enjoy it. In the summertime, there's another park we always frequent, the Chutes and Ladders in Bloomington, and it's a ton of fun with the kids.
KJ: On fun days like that, what's your ultimate cheat meal?
ES: Probably a good burger and fries. Just every once in a while, those are always a nice treat. You don't feel great afterward but at the time, it's always good going down.
KJ: Tampa's definitely a nice getaway, but where's your dream vacation destination?
ES: I've never been to Hawaii so I would love to, at some point, go out there and just enjoy being out there. It's supposed to be pretty awesome so it'd be on my list of places I want to go.
Related:
- Wild looks to win week during New York road trip
- Look back: Staal at 2018 All-Star Game
- Staal shares All-Star experience with sons
- Watch: Staal-Star Weekend
