Photo by Andrew Knapik/MiHockey

Father’s Day 2016: Checking in with proud hockey dad Kevin Larkin

Kevin Larkin (front) with wife Sidney Denise and son Colin (Photo by Michael Caples/MiHockey)
Kevin Larkin (front) with wife Sidney Denise and son Colin (Photo by Michael Caples/MiHockey)

 

By @MichaelCaples –

I told Kevin Larkin that this year, his famous son should be improving upon his Father’s Day gift-giving game.

After all, he does have a hockey celebrity for a son now.

“Maybe I’ll get something a littler nicer than the traditional socks and T-shirts,” Larkin said with a laugh.

When I suggested that Dylan purchase his dad a new boat, he certainly liked the idea.

“A boat? Really? Put it in there, maybe if he reads this and gets that idea…” he said with another laugh.

I’m willing to bet there was no “here are the keys to your new boat” moment within the Larkin household this Father’s Day, though when it comes to Dylan Larkin, nothing surprises anymore.

“It’s been a fantastic year – way beyond our expectations,” Kevin Larkin told MiHockey in a recent interview about his son’s NHL success and his new celebrity status. “To think this time last year, he was just returning back from the World Championships, he had a good tournament but we were still contemplating whether he should turn pro or stay in school. Talking to various parties, and Kenny Holland being one of them, and our advisor, we decided it was time for him to turn pro – we had no idea that he would have such success so early into his career.”

That’s why, for Father’s Day 2016, MiHockey wanted to check in with Dylan’s dad – no better time for a feature with the guy who raised Hockeytown’s hometown star, right?

After all, few – if any – hockey dads have had the luxury of watching their son score his first NHL goal against dad’s favorite team growing up.

Dylan did just that, of course, registering his first goal in his first NHL game – a opening-night showdown with the Toronto Maple Leafs with more than a few Larkin family members in the stands.

Photo by Andrew Knapik/MiHockey
Dylan and Kevin Larkin at a University of Michigan hockey game last November. (Photo by Andrew Knapik/MiHockey)

 

In a season loaded with memorable moments, Kevin Larkin still pointed to that one when he asked what his favorite was.

“There were many,” he said, with another humble laugh. “I guess the biggest highlight would be his very first game, regular-season game, against the Toronto Maple Leafs. With me from Toronto, and growing up a Leafs fan, to have Dylan score a goal and an assist against my old team – now that I’m a Red Wings fan – that game really comes to my mind as the highlight.”

Ever since that first goal – and a shot of the family flashing on the Fox Sports Detroit broadcast during the celebration, life has been a little different for Kevin and his family.

“Oh yeah, but like I told my clients – I’m in the beauty supply business – they’re saying, ‘Oh Kevin, we saw you on TV’ – that was to start the season. I said, ‘hey, I had my 15 minutes of fame,’ and now, my wife and I, we stay low key. People I guess will still recognize that we’re Dylan’s parents, but it’s nothing near to the degree that he’s having to deal with, on our behalf.”

Life is certainly a little different these days for the Larkin family, though.

“It definitely has changed,” Kevin Larkin said. “It’s rather interesting – there is Dylan the celebrity with the Detroit Red Wings image, and when he comes home, he’s Dylan the teenager. Low-key, just being a kid. My wife and I see two sides to it, but he’s handling it, not getting cocky, trying to give as much time to the fans as he can. It is very time consuming…I witnessed Nashville at the All-Star Game, to see the crowds lined up for the autograph session, it was unbelievable how busy it was, you know?”

Kevin’s humble nature has certainly been passed to No. 71, as well.

“He’s always been a very humble kid, and that’s something that I’ve been impressed with him – he’s remained focused and he’s worked hard and he’s stayed humble through all this. I think that’s something that has really helped him with his progress over the year.”

And because of all that, he’s certainly one proud hockey dad – not only for Dylan, but also for his son Colin (a forward at UMass-Boston) and his nephews Adam (a defenseman at Yale) and Ryan (a goaltender at Miami).

“Not just Dylan, but my older son who is playing college hockey in Boston and my two nephews that are playing college hockey, as well. To think being a hockey fan all my life and going through minor hockey in Michigan and coaching with my brother, my nephew and Dylan winning Silver Sticks in Toronto when they were pee wees – no idea where this was all evolving. To see where we’re at, this past year and the success of all of them, very cool and very proud.”