Southern Shore Breakers defenseman Stephen Oates says playing alongside his son Zach O’Brien during a match up against the Outer Cove Marines is one of the proudest moments of his life.
“I absolutely love hockey,” said Oates. “And then to share that experience with your son, it’s hard even to put into words how special that really is.”
Oates said whenever the senior squad has to call up defencemen from the junior Breakers, either Riley Spurrell or Jessie Putt gets the call. Both defenders, however, were unavailable for a January 22 game against the Marines, as they were on the west coast enjoying a skidoo trip.
So, Oates suggested the team call up Zach, also a d-man on the junior team.
“His game has come a long way in the last few years, and he’s pretty steady defensively,” said Oates.
Coaching staff were agreeable to the idea, and the father and son not only dressed for the game, but wound up on the same defensive pairing.
“Off the opening face-off, we won the draw, and the puck came back to me, so I made sure to pass the puck to him to try and get him a couple touches early to get confidence up because I knew he nervous,” said Oates.
He said he’s never heard of a father and son playing on a senior team together — especially as a defense pairing.
“It was always something I’ve dreamt about,” said Oates. “It was unbelievable — it was hard to describe in words.”
And while it doesn’t look likely the pair will reunite again this late in the season, Oates said it’s possible they’ll pair up again eventually.
Oates, a native of Fermeuse, began playing with the Southern Shore Junior Breakers in 2002, and was later called up to the Senior Breakers. He’s won two Herders with the team, one in 2004 and one more recently in 2022.
“I love the competitive aspect of it, and the camaraderie,” said Oates. “I love being with my teammates and playing for my teammates. I love that sense of everybody coming together to try and achieve something.”
He first strapped on a pair of skates when he was just a young fellow.
Born in 1983, Oates turned five in 1987 — the same year the Southern Shore Arena was constructed.
“So, just as I was signing up for hockey, the arena was built,” said Oates. “So, it was super convenient because up until that point, people were having to travel to St. Johns.”
Oates loved playing hockey as a kid, especially with his cousin Ryanne Clowe. Clowe played in the NHL for a decade, including eight seasons with the San Jose Sharks, served as head coach of the Growlers for a season, and is currently working as an advisor for the New York Rangers.
“Our dads would carpool us back and forth to the stadium, back in the day,” said Oates. “He’s a big inspiration for me, and for a lot of people on the Southern Shore. He proved that dreams could come true.”
Oates’ son Zach grew up in the Southern Shore Minor Hockey Association, playing in the same arena as his dad did growing up.
The Breakers, meanwhile, are sitting pretty at the top of the Avalon East Senior Hockey League standings, at the time of writing.
The team holds a two-point lead over the St. John’s Caps after 18 games, and Oates is gunning for another Herder.
“We have a great group, and the season is going well so far,” said Oates. “We have a lot of belief inside our dressing room… The core of our team has been together for a few years, and we’ve really become close inside of our locker room. It really becomes like a family.”
Oates is also hopeful this will be the season that Patrice Bergeron and the rest of his beloved Boston Bruins will capture the Stanley Cup.
“I’d probably take a bullet for Bergeron,” joked Oates, who was in Boston in 2019 for Games one, two, and five in the Bruins’ series against St. Louis, a series that they would lose in Game Seven.
As of writing, the Bruins lead the NHL by almost 10 points, so Oates dream of a double win this spring isn’t all that farfetched.
