Hockey gifted Vlasic family gear up for hometown NHL Winter Classic

Feature photo courtesy of Emma Vlasic

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Team Vlasic is ready for the 2025 NHL Winter Classic.

When the Chicago Blackhawks face off against the St. Louis Blues in the Dec. 31 game at iconic Wrigley Field, home of MLB’s Chicago Cubs, the Vlasic name will be well-represented both on the ice and in the stands.

Alex, an Illinois native in his second full NHL season with his hometown team, is set to play in his first NHL outdoor game. His parents, John and Tara, along with older siblings, Emma and Eric, will all be there to take in every minute of the action.

“It’s very cool, not only for myself, but for my family too,” said Alex. “It’s something you dream about as a kid when you watch the games on TV, especially the Blackhawks games that were played outdoors. It will be amazing to look up and see my family there.”

From the days spent on their backyard rink and countless hours playing in the basement rec room, the siblings from Wilmette, Illinois, located about an hour north of Chicago, have each made their mark on the sport.

Alex played two campaigns on the blueline with USA Hockey's National Team Development Program before suiting up for Boston University. In 2019, he was taken 43rd overall by his hometown Blackhawks at the NHL Draft. 

Emma enjoyed a stellar four years playing forward at Yale University and was voted team captain for her senior season in 2018-19. After her collegiate career, she played four seasons for the Connecticut Whale of the National Women's Hockey League and Professional Hockey Federation.

“My sister was a huge role model for me growing up,” said Alex. “She is a hard-working person, who has a remarkable work ethic, especially when it comes to hockey, on and off the ice.

“She always motivated me to put in the extra work. In the summer, she would drag me out to the field in the summer to do sprints for conditioning, even though I didn’t want to. She helped make me the person I am today.”

Eric, the oldest of the Vlasic kids, is a goaltender who captains the Chicago Storm Special Hockey Team.

The nonprofit provides children and adults with disabilities the chance to play the game. Through the program, Eric has played throughout the United States and in national tournaments.

“My brother loves the game,” said Alex, 23. “To see him get the opportunity to play and enjoy it means the world to me. He is such a good human being and loves the game more than anybody I know.”

“Growing up with a brother who has special needs, it shapes you earlier on in life,” said Emma. “It allowed me to mature earlier on and take on that type of leadership role amongst the three of us. I wanted to be the best role model I could for Eric and Alex. We all loved being together.”

Hockey has been a cornerstone of the Vlasic family for years.

“We always had a tight-knit relationship, hockey obviously being such an important part of our lives and bringing us together,” said Emma, 28. “Whether that was in the backyard on the rink our dad built – we were out there starting at a young age – or going on to play minor hockey, we always shared that love of the game. Being out there together on that outdoor rink is one of our best hockey memories.”

As were the times spent playing the game in the basement.

Over the years, the trio left a lasting impression on the room.

“We would play for hours,” recalled Emma. “I’m sure our parents didn’t appreciate the stick marks on the walls and ceilings, but we loved that.

“We were either the [AHL’s Chicago] Wolves or the Blackhawks, depending on what we were feeling that day,” continued Emma. “We wanted to be the home team – we had the jerseys for both teams – so it was a lot of fun.”

Alex has similar recollections of those days.

“Playing in the basement, running around with the mini sticks, dreaming about playing in the NHL – I feel very lucky that I was able to achieve my dream. So many people helped me to get where I am.”

Emma and Eric are high on that list.

Alex, who played his first NHL game on March 19, 2022, credits both of his siblings for inspiring him to chase after his NHL goal.

“I am so fortunate to have a great brother and sister. They have always supported me every step of the way. I will always be grateful for everything they have done for me.”

It is the same for Emma. 

“Alex has always been supportive of me. We call each other and check in. Eric would always ask about my team, especially the goalies. Hockey has always brought us together.”

Emma and Alex also have high praise for their cousin, 37-year-old NHL veteran and fellow defenceman, Marc-Edouard Vlasic.

Suiting up for the San Jose Sharks for his entire career, Marc-Edouard, who is four games shy of 1,300 NHL games, is an inspirational figure for the Vlasic siblings.

“He was a huge reason why not only myself, but also my brother and sister, love hockey as much as we do,” said Alex. “Seeing the success he had made us believe in ourselves.

“We have a family cottage in Nova Scotia, so we would see him every once in a while. My parents have some pretty funny stories about how attached I was to Marc-Edouard growing up. He was someone I looked up to and aspired to be like.”

Added Emma, “When he first broke into the league, for us it was crazy – it was such a cool family moment. Little did we know that Alex would come down the pipeline later on. We would watch the NHL games and when we had someone in our family make it, that was even more special.

“Whenever he came to Chicago, we would go to the games and go out for dinner. He’s accomplished quite a bit and we’re lucky to have Alex there now.”

Something the Vlasics will be reminded of when the puck drops at Wrigley Field in a week’s time.

Not surprisingly, the NHL Winter Classic has been circled on the family calendar for a while.

“I’m really looking forward to it,” said Emma, who calls Connecticut home. “I got to see Alex play at Madison Square Garden recently. A couple of my friends and I who played for the Connecticut Whale went to the game. That was the first time I saw him play this season.

“I am excited to get back home and see my family. I’ve never been to a Winter Classic, so that is going to be a lot of fun, especially with it being at Wrigley Field.”

A place that the family knows well.

Emma and Alex have different recollections of watching Chicago Cubs games and the sport of baseball during their childhood days.

“Alex and I both played baseball a little bit growing up and I definitely liked it more than he did,” said Emma. “I would ask him to throw the ball around with me and he would begrudgingly come out and play in the backyard.

“We would go to the Cubs game and my dad was on the same page as Alex, wanting to escape the crowd at the end and leave by the sixth or seventh inning. I always wanted to stay, but I was outnumbered.”

It was ice over diamonds for Alex.

“Hockey was always the biggest sport for me. My sister is a huge Cubs fan. We would go to a few games in the summer growing up, but it would get hot, and I’d always want to leave around the sixth or seventh inning.”

There is no chance of that happening on Dec. 31.

The game will add another chapter to the Vlasic clan’s shared love of the sport.

“Eric is probably even more excited than I am about this Winter Classic game,” said Alex. “I can’t wait for him to experience that. And to have my family there, I know this is going to be a great memory for us all.”