Foudy brothers amp up Spits Knights rivalry
Talented siblings square off on the ice during Spitfires-Knights game
The long-standing rivalry between the Windsor Spitfires and London Knights took a new twist on Thursday.
The two teams have battled on the ice for more than four decades, but never has the rivalry pitted brother against brother like it did on Thursday when Knights thirdyear forward Liam Foudy faced his younger brother Jean-Luc Foudy, who is in his rookie season with the Spitfires.
“Playing my brother now, it just intensifies the rivalry,” 18-year-old Liam Foudy said. Jean-Luc Foudy had hoped to face his older brother on the second night of the season, but Liam Foudy missed the Knights opener because he was attending camp with the NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets.
“I’ve just been waiting,” 16-yearold Jean-Luc Foudy said. “I’ve never played against him, so this (is) the first time.”
Both players were first-round picks in the Ontario Hockey League Draft. Liam Foudy went 18th overall to the Knights in 2016, while the Spitfires took the younger Foudy with the 10th pick overall in April’s draft.
“I was hoping he was going to maybe drop to where we were picking, but Windsor took him before that,” Liam Foudy said. The two come from impressive lineage. Dad, Sean Foudy, won a Grey Cup with the B.C. Lions in 1994. Mom, France Gareau, is a former Canadian sprinter and won a silver medal with the women’s 4x100-metre relay team at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games, but only dad was able to attend Thursday’s game.
“Mom had to work,” Liam Foudy said. “My dad doesn’t like wearing jerseys when he comes to watch us play. I think he’ll be going for us individually and just be happy if we play well.”
For Jean-Luc Foudy, who came into Thursday’s game averaging more than a point per game, it’s been a matter of following in his brother’s footsteps for years. “I played with him my first season of house league,” Jean-Luc Foudy said. “I was like four and he was six. We were both defencemen until we were about 12.”
Two of the most gifted skaters in the league, Jean-Luc Foudy has spent much of his young life battling to keep up with his brother and not just on the ice. Both are provincial high-school track and field champions in hurdles. “We’re always competing in everything we’ve done,” Liam Foudy said. “We always want to be better than each other.” Jean-Luc Foudy was in Dallas in June to watch as his brother was selected 18th overall by Columbus and he can’t wait to try to better that number when he’s eligible in 2020. “It was a pretty cool experience sitting and not just seeing him, but seeing some of the other great talents there and going through the experience,” Jean-Luc Foudy said. “It makes me want to be better than him. It’s always competitive.” But while the two have a competitive side, there’s a tight bond and the two are in constant contact. “We talk through the whole season,” Jean-Luc Foudy said. “He went through it first, so he tells me everything of what to do and not to do and how to improve. He’s making the path for me a lot easier.” Liam Foudy took a few minutes during warm-ups to stop at centre and have a few words with a young brother he sees with a bright future. “I think (when he’s my age) he’ll be one of the better players in the league,” Liam Foudy said. “He’s better than I was at that age. He’s got a bright future ahead and it’s fun to watch him play.”