MONDAY FEATURE: Strome Family Is Certainly A Hockey Family

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HERSHEY, Pa. - Players always refer to teammates as "family" but the word takes on another meaning for Matt Strome, Philadelphia’s 2017-4th round pick who signed with the Hershey Bears in September, just two months after the Washington Capitals signed one of his brothers, Dylan.

As one might expect growing up in a house with siblings who also played hockey, it was pretty much all hockey all of the time in the Strome household.

"It was 24/7," laughed Strome recalling growing up with older brothers Ryan (Anaheim) and Dylan. "If it wasn't road hockey, it was mini-sticks. If it wasn't mini-sticks, we were watching it on TV, so it was hockey 24/7."

Usually with talented hockey families, it's a parent, uncle, or other family member that paves the way, but that isn't the case with the Strome family.

"My dad played hockey," admitted Strome, whose brothers are both currently playing in the NHL and are key contributors to their respective teams. "He didn't play at a very high level, but he's watched a ton of hockey and I think he's the smartest person I know who played and watches hockey, so when he gives me advice, I just try and take that and run with it."

That advice paid off early on when Ryan was selected in the OHL draft, which also afforded young Matt a chance to emulate his oldest brother.

"I was 10-years-old I think, so I thought he was the biggest star ever," recalled Strome. "I'd always make sure we got there early to watch them and warm-ups, and just seeing everything he did. When I got home, I tried to copy that."

Even now, Matt likes to watch Ryan's games.

"Ryan plays a little later now," Strome said of the Anaheim Duck, "so I try and watch all of their games now when I can."

And with Dylan playing with the Capitals, it’s even more exciting for Matt to be in the same organization.

"It was awesome," Strome said of training camp in Washington. "It was the first time I've played with him in I think almost 20 years, so it was really cool. I know they've played against each other, but to be on the same ice on the same team was really exciting."

Being on the same ice together can be a blessing and a curse though as Strome's parents found out earlier when the two oldest brothers' teams squared off.

"My mom is a nervous wreck," Strome said, noting that his parents want them all to do well. "One time I think Ryan scored and Dylan was on the ice, so she stood up and cheered, and then she was a little sad. They're on the road pretty much every weekend seeing us, so it's great to have their support."

With Dylan and Matt both signing with the Capitals organization in the off-season, there isn't quite as far to travel to see the younger two, and there is, hopefully on the horizon, a Strome reunion of sorts to be had in Washington.

"That's the goal, hopefully one day," Matt said. "[Dylan] is having a really good year there, so I'm just trying to learn from him and watch what he's doing and follow in his footsteps."

For now, Matt is fitting in quite well himself in Hershey after coming over from Lehigh Valley.

With 19 games under his belt, Strome has recorded one assist and is still looking for that first goal as a Bear. The glaring stat line though is 21 penalty minutes.

For reference, Strome had 36 penalty minutes through his first four seasons as a pro, but there is a very good reason for 17 of those penalty minutes - the result of a Jonathan Gruden elbow to Aaron Ness. Hershey fans fell a little bit in love with Matt Strome in that minute when he instantly reacted and dropped the gloves with the Penguin forward.

"I'm not much of a fighter, obviously," Strome said. "That was my first career fight, but our team, we're so close. I just had to let them know that I'm going to do anything for this team."

Of course, playing against the Penguins 12 times is slightly easier than playing against his former Lehigh Valley teammates 12 times.

"It's difficult," Strome said of playing against his former teammates so many times. "We had a pre-season game there and it was weird. You know I played with most of those guys for three years and you're brothers with them, really, but sometimes that changes and now I just want to beat them."

While those relationships built in Allentown will stay with him, and there is room for new relationships that he's building in Hershey, it's the ties with his family that remain the strongest.

"Whenever I need anything, if I'm in a slump or anything, I just text them and they try and give me some advice," Strome said of Dylan and Ryan.

That long-distance advice will have to suffice for now, but maybe, perhaps someday soon, all three will meet again on the ice, coming full circle to how it all began, with a bit of a twist.

"Playing road hockey, mini-sticks, anything always turned into a fight. It was normally me and Dylan, Ryan was a little bit bigger than us, so he kind of stayed out of it but me and Dylan, we've had some wars in our basement and on the driveway," Matt recalled.

If all goes well, one day it could be Dylan and Matt teaming up to go to war on the ice against big brother, Ryan. A dream come true for the entire family, well, maybe except for Mom.

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