Hockey a family affair for Thorold OHLers

The former schoolmates and teammates have been skating and studying together “since about age five,” according to Girhiny, and in the OHL faced each other on opposing teams.

“It’s kind of like a dream growing up,” Girhiny said. “You never know what to expect. But we are going to keep playing hockey at the highest level.”

Christian’s father, St. Catharines Falcons general manager Frank Girhiny, credits Conor’s father, Dan Timmins, who brought a Sutherland Cup provincial junior B championship to Thorold as coach of the Thorold Blackhawks, for much of his son’s success.

“Danny coached him from six or seven and he learned the right way,” the elder Girhiny said. “It’s pretty exciting seeing your son play on TV, and play the best junior hockey around.”

Like their sons, the fathers share a long hockey history. Under Timmins’ ownership, the Blackhawks won the Sutherland Cup in 2004-05, and Girhiny was the team manager.

Timmins coached the team for 10 years and owned it for six of those highly successful seasons.

Watching the Hawks play, “and growing up in that atmosphere, Conor always enjoyed being at the rink,” Dan Timmins said. “From the time he could walk, hockey was pretty well everything for him.”

Having coached Conor for “his whole career, from tyke to minor midget,” Timmins said that waking his son for early morning practices was never once an issue.

“For the 6 a.m. (practices), we were always there for 5:20. We knew we could get on the ice early,” he said. “My wife Sandra and I are definitely proud in the sense that he has worked hard for it, so it’s nice to see him get rewarded.”