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M U R P H Y B i g g s s e chiphe'ol ic ft off Gold-Medal Winning Junior Players Didn't Have To Look Far To Find Their Role Models O ne of the hallmarks of the annual IIHF World Junior Championships is the chance to see the next generation of NHL stars en route to achieving their dreams of playing professional hockey. The majority of these players can only dream of the life that awaits and will learn the ins and outs of professional sports as the experiences come their way. The lucky few who have parents with professional sports experience have long found that wealth of knowledge sits on the other side of the dinner table. "It's huge to have someone who's been through it all right there at your disposal," said Tyler Biggs, whose father Don played for the Minnesota North Stars and Philadelphia Flyers. "You really can't have a better situation. Especially going to the next levels where there are things you aren't used to. To have someone you know, and can be so honest with you, is the biggest thing." The gold-medal winning 2013 U.S. 20 march. 2013 By Cameron Eickmeyer National Junior Team featured six players whose parents played professional sports. Biggs, Connor Murphy, Jim Vesey and Riley Barber have fathers who played in the NHL, Jon Gillies' father played in the International Hockey League and Seth Jones' father Popeye Jones played 11 seasons in the NBA. Head coach Phil Housley said the group showed elements of game preparation and maturity that he feels comes from early exposure to the life of a professional athlete. "You can see the professionalism by the people you hang around with and the way they approach the game and prepare," said Housley, himself a 21-year NHL star. "I think that rubs off on the [child of a professional athlete]." Murphy described visits to the NHL arenas where he would see his favorite players in a way the typical fan could never experience. "I remember going to Christmas skates for the NHL teams my dad was a part of and going to skate in the same rinks where USAHOCKEYMAGAZINE.COM I watched them play," said Murphy, whose father Gord played 14 seasons in the NHL and now coaches with the Florida Panthers. "When I got older in Columbus my dad would take me into the rink on off days and let me skate with a couple of the injured guys who were coming back. … I was just in awe of how big and good they were." Murphy said the close proximity to the life of professional hockey players lit a fire in him to pursue his goal. "It kind of fueled the dream, I'd say," he added. "It's your dream to become [a professional athlete], but when you're around it, it becomes even a bigger dream because you know what it can be like." Jones said growing up with access to elite level athletes and opportunities to see them prepare set a positive example that he emulates as he ascends up the hockey ladder. "I was able to see a lot of their practices and certain players like Dirk Nowitzki staying late and shooting baskets," said Jones of his time in Texas while his father was with the NBA's Dallas Mavericks.