Stephen Gionta looks forward to facing older brother Brian
There have been many sets of brothers who have played in the National Hockey League over the years, sometimes even for the same team. The Niedermayer brothers, Scott and Rob, were once
team-mates on the Anaheim Ducks, while Henrik and Daniel Sedin power the Vancouver Canucks with their amazing offensive skills. Saku and Mikko Koivu play for different NHL teams, but they have both suited up for the Finnish national team on several occasions.
For the second time this season, a member of the Montreal Canadiens will face his brother in a game. On Thursday 2 December, the Habs will visit the New Jersey Devils, for whom team captain
Brian Gionta’s younger brother Stephen currently plays.
Earlier in the season, forward Tom Pyatt faced his older brother Taylor of the Phoenix Coyotes. The Habs had the upper hand in that game, posting a 3-2 overtime win.
When the brothers Gionta face each other, it will be the first time in both their careers that they have shared the same ice. Stephen, 27, is 4½ years younger than Brian, and has been
in the Devils’ system for several years. He was recently called up by the team as an injury replacement. Brian was drafted 82nd overall by the Devils in 1998, and spent the first eight years of career in New Jersey. In 2009, he signed a five-year contract
with the Canadiens, and was named the team’s 28th captain before the start of the 2010-11 season.
Stephen Gionta signed an amateur tryout contract with the Albany River Rats as an undrafted free agent, and made his debut with the team in 2006. He later became the captain of the re-named
Albany Devils, and is very similar in stature to his brother, albeit with a 12-pound weight difference. Stephen has even inherited his brother’s former jersey number with the Devils, No. 14.
The youngest member of the Gionta clan is very much looking forward to facing his brother, as it would create some interesting competition between the two of them.
“I wouldn’t have any words to explain the excitement playing against your older sibling,” Stephen Gionta told
NJ.com.
“It would be pretty cool. We’ve never been on the same ice for a game in any aspect other than a charity event. It would be pretty cool to be part of that and get a chance to play against
your big bro.”
The Devils have had their share of struggles this season, ranging from injuries to key players to their abysmal record. The Habs, on the other hand, have played well thus far, and are
currently one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference.
Stephen admits that he and Brian never discussed what would happen if both of them ended up playing in the NHL, but they will now have an opportunity to answer that question.
“I don’t know if we ever really talked both of us playing in the NHL,” Stephen said. “When I came into my first camp (in 2006) I was on an AHL deal, so I wasn’t expecting much. When he
was here I got the chance to play with him (in training camp), and now that he’s in Montreal, I’ll hopefully get a chance to play against him.”
Growing up together in Rochester, New York, the Gionta brothers were never really in competition with each other. But as they got older, Brian took Stephen under his wing and helped him
as much as he could.
“I guess there is always competition between brothers, but as we got older it kind of became the big brother kind of looking out for the little brother,” Stephen said. “(He was) giving
me advice, especially going into college. Telling me to be my own player and looking out for me. Life advice.”
Regardless of which team wins this game, one thing is certain – it will certainly be a match to remember for both Gionta brothers.
Tags: