Having to make a a tough decision on which number to get on the back of your Bakersfield Condors team sweater is a good problem to have in the Pitlick family.<\/p>\n
Will it be a No. 16, for Rem Pitlick?<\/p>\n
Or No. 68, for younger brother Rhett?<\/p>\n
Either way, it\u2019s going to involve shopping at the same team store now that both brothers are playing on the same team.<\/p>\n
On one hand, you\u2019ve got Rem, a 28-year-old forward who made his NHL debut in the 2018-19 season with a Nashville Predators team that drafted him in the third round (76th overall) in 2016.<\/p>\n
Since then, the University of Minnesota product has been up and down from American Hockey League affiliates to their parent clubs, earning 54 points (21 goals, 33 assists) and 54 penalty minutes in 132 NHL games.<\/p>\n
Besides the Predators, he split his time between the Minnesota Wild, Montreal Canadiens and Chicago Blackhawks. 166 games, scoring 57 goals and adding 81 assists for 138 points. In the AHL, Rem has 149 points (60 goals, 89 assists) in 175 games \u2014 including a team-leading 11 points (three goals, eight assists) here in his first season in Bakersfield, after having signed a one-year deal on June 25.<\/p>\n
Rhett signed a two-year deal on April 8, fresh off leading the Minnesota State University Mavericks with 40 points (13g-27a) in 39 games in his third and final NCAA season. He continued his point-per-game production with six assists in six games to end off this past AHL season.<\/p>\n
Drafted in Round 5 (131st overall) by the Canadiens in 2019, the 24-year-old has yet to skate on NHL ice, and has four points (two goals, two assists) in nine games so far this year.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat an amazing opportunity, I think, for the brothers,\u201d said Condors head coach Colin Chaulk. \u201cAnd then probably for their mom and dad, and the rest of their family just how amazing that feels.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think that\u2019s probably a dream come true and we\u2019re happy to have them both.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hockey has indeed been a family affair for the Pitlicks, with their father, Lance, playing eight NHL seasons with the Ottawa Senators and Florida Panthers, while their cousin, Tyler, has played 420 NHL games.<\/p>\n
\u201cObviously, dad played in the NHL,\u201d Chaulk said. \u201cAnd being a hockey family, it\u2019s part of their DNA.\u201d<\/p>\n
Whether it was a concerted effort, or the opportunity to get both brothers on board happened to present itself, the Condors<\/p>\n
\u201cWe had Rhett come in last year at the end of his college career and he played well,\u201d Chaulk said. And I think both of them really were excited and really wanted to play together on the same team.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat really was above my decision. Management makes those decisions. My job is to try to unlock the player, harness what they have and make them better.\u201d<\/p>\n
Just don\u2019t expect to see both Pitlicks on the same line any time soon, considering they both shoot from the same side.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe haven\u2019t yet, based on they\u2019re both left shots, they\u2019re both wingers,\u201d Chaulk said. \u201cWill that happen at some point? I don\u2019t know. Right now, we\u2019re trying to do what\u2019s best for the team.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it would probably be fun if they played together at some point. It\u2019d be cool, but at the same time, they\u2019re part of the team and we\u2019re trying to manage everyone, and everyone\u2019s individual goals and feelings, as well.\u201d<\/p>\n
While the roads they\u2019ve taken to arrive in Bakersfield have been different, the destination remains the same for both brothers, who are looking to continue with their development.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re just a part of the team, right?\u201d Chaulk said. \u201cI think they both have different skillsets and they\u2019re both offensive. Rem\u2019s had a really good start numbers-wise.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd Rhett, in his first year of pro, is just playing his way and was able to score his first goal last week. So, it felt good for him.\u201d<\/p>\n
While there is always a healthy sense of competition between teammates looking to push each other to get better, this isn\u2019t a case of sibling rivalry, at all.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think they just really enjoy being with each other,\u201d Chaulk said. \u201cThey sit beside each other, they try to do most things together, and I think they definitely enjoy each other\u2019s company.<\/p>\n
\u201cAside from that, they\u2019re both real good hockey players and we\u2019re real thankful to have them.\u201d<\/p>\n
E-mail: gmoddejonge@postmedia.com<\/a><\/p>\n On X: @GerryModdejonge<\/p>\n Related<\/p>\n Bookmark our website and support our journalism: Don\u2019t miss the news you need to know \u2014 add EdmontonJournal.com<\/a> and EdmontonSun.com<\/a> to your bookmarks and sign up for our newsletters<\/a>.
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