Ottawa forward Nick Foligno may one day soon be joined in the NHL by younger brother Marcus. (Fred Chartrand/Canadian Press)
Ottawa Senators forward Nick Foligno these day finds himself providing counsel for his younger brother Marcus in much the same manner their father advised Nick when he began his days as a pro.
The patriarch, 52-year-old Mike, was a highly regarded prospect coming out of junior. He scored an incredible 65 goals in 68 games in his final season with the Sudbury Wolves in 1978-79 and a few months later was selected third overall by the Detroit Red Wings in the NHL entry draft.
Mike was good enough to scratch out a 1,018-game career with Detroit, Buffalo, Toronto and Florida, as well as see action in another 57 playoff games.
Nick turned 24 on Halloween and already is in his fifth pro season and only 12 games shy of his 300th career mark in the NHL. His 20-year-old brother is 14 games into his first pro campaign and off to a flying start with six goals after his final season that saw him score 23 goals in a knee-injury shortened 47-game year with the Wolves.
Marcus, a Sabres prospect, toils for Buffalo's AHL affiliate, the Rochester Americans.
Mike, Nick and Marcus try to keep in touch daily either through a phone call, text message or e-mail. But connecting always isn't easy.
Mike is in his second season as an assistant coach with the Anaheim Ducks, where he works with head coach Randy Carlyle and the other assistant coach, Dave Farrish. All three were junior teammates with the Wolves.
Marcus has set his sights on playing with the Sabres this season, Nick's message has been not to read too much into the daily developments of being a young pro.
"As a young guy you read into where you're playing, who you're playing with, why you didn't get called up," Nick said. "All those things can take away from your game. You need to go out there and play the best you can every night. You need to enjoy yourself. It can be a lot of fun and everything goes by so quickly.
"I'm really proud of him. He wants to be playing in Buffalo in a hurry. But he's working hard and finding his way in his first year of pro hockey. The hard work will pay off."
Hard work and a sense of humour always paid off for Mike in his successful NHL career. He later spread that personality to scores of players with the Wolves in seven seasons as head coach behind the Sudbury bench. The highlight was coaching both sons as well as a trip to the 2006-07 final against the eventual champion Plymouth Whalers.
Nick was the team's leading scorer that season with 43 goals in 87 combined regular season and playoff games.
"A sense of humour and a good work ethic is something we both get from him," Nick said. "He not only has that sense of humour, but he has that love for the game. Since a young age, we both enjoyed coming to the rink to work hard and have fun.
"The one thing he constantly reminds us is that whether you're in the AHL or NHL, your job is to play hockey and what can be more fun than that."
In his first full season with the Senators, Nick checked in with an impressive 17 goals. But life as a pro hockey player always hasn't been fun for him.
The passing of his mother Janis in July 2009 due after a battle with breast cancer and a broken leg six months later weighed heavily, and Foligno's development stalled.
The Senators, however, shipped out veterans Chris Kelly and Mike Fisher before last season's trade deadline. With their departures, Nick has increased responsibility, and he seems to be back on track with a strong start this fall.
"There obviously have been some ups and downs, but I feel I feel I've been developing and I feel I'm starting to do the things I'm capable of," said Nick, who has six goals in 19 games. "I just have to make sure I'm doing it on a consistent basis. I'm getting closer and closer to being that player I want to be. I just have to keep working at it.
"It's gone by quick."
When Nick glances around the Senators dressing room these days, he sees plenty of rookies trying to find their way, but some of these players are a year or two older than Nick.
"It's a different atmosphere around here," he said. "We're younger. We're in a rebuilding phase. But I see a lot of potential in here."
Tim Wharnsby
Tim's worked the sports beat at The Globe and Mail and the Toronto Sun, specializing in Canada's one true sporting obsession - hockey. He knows the players, the coaches, the backroom boys and most importantly, the fans. That's what he brings to his stories. Knowledge, fairness and understanding are trademarks of a Wharnsby story. That's what you will get here as he writes for CBCSports.ca.
