A Nashville Predators fan had a unique encounter with Dustin Byfuglien’s parents during Game 2 of their series against the Winnipeg Jets
Things can get mighty heated during the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Game 2 between the Nashville Predators and Winnipeg Jets was a back and forth battle with the former coming out on top in overtime. During the game, a Predators fan relentlessly heckled Jets defenseman Dustin Byfuglien.
That’s typical in a postseason game. It’s part of what makes playoff hockey so much fun. Fans and players alike are pumped up and energized. But this Predators fan got a little surprise when he heckled Byfuglien.
The Preds fan in question, Ben McGreevy, was sitting right in front of Byfuglien’s parents.
I’m sitting here shouting at Dustin Byfuglien all game about how he is a try hard and a wannabe.
— Ben McGreevy (@McGreevyBen) April 30, 2018
The Jets fans behind me kept cracking up.
Finally. They told me they were his parents.
That’s got to be a pretty huge shocker. Realizing you’re heckling someone’s son. And realizing you’re doing it right in front of them. Luckily, Byfuglien’s parents were cool about it. People get heated and yell at each other, whether it’s at a game, in a bar, or online. McGreevy wound up chatting with Byfuglien’s parents and had a really good time doing so.
They were super great about the entire thing! After this encounter, we kept joking with each other back and forth. His step father played back in the 70's, so it was cool to talk hockey at a deeper level with someone!
— Ben McGreevy (@McGreevyBen) April 30, 2018
At the end of the day, isn’t this what being a sports fan is all about? Fans yelling at first but then realizing they have common ground with those around them? Even those who don’t root for the same team as you? Man, that’s cool.
It’s understandable why Byfuglien made McGreevy so mad. He’s a player who is very good at pissing people off. Byfuglien tiptoes the guidelines the rules set out. At times, he crosses that line with reckless abandonment.
Byfuglien’s stepfather is Dale Smedsmo, who had a four-game cup of coffee with the Toronto Maple Leafs back in the 1972-73 season. He also spent 110 games in the WHA.
Next: Final Second Round Predictions
What a night it was for McGreevy. Not only did he get to talk to Byfuglien’s parents, he also got to see his Predators win 5-4 in overtime to tie their series against the Jets at one game apiece.
Check out our Stanley Cup Playoffs hub page!