Jason was called up from the AHL and scored an assist on a Tyler Seguin goal in his NHL debut Feb. 13 in Toronto, a 3-2 Stars victory.
“You see the NHL on TV, but you never know until you actually play against it,” Jason said. “I felt very comfortable and was fortunate to get my first point.
“That was an emotional moment for my parents and all my billets that helped me get to where I wanted to be.”
It worked out well for their parents, who were already in Toronto and were able to witness the debut live. Jason played two more NHL games and finished the 2019-20 AHL season with 25 goals and 47 points in 60 games.
The brothers credit their parents for instilling a hard-work mentality. It’s about staying focused, not getting distracted and sticking to a routine, Nick said. He has already seen the heavy Filipino population in Toronto and hopes to set an example there with the Maple Leafs. He said he’s motivated to be that example for not only Filipino kids, but also California kids who haven’t always had the luxury of having an ice sheet a few minutes away to play hockey.
Jason didn’t think much about being a Filipino-American hockey player until he was drafted. It’s something he and his brother take pride in. Jason skated with some Filipino players in Toronto last summer, so he’s tried to work with them, too.
“My mom always promoted the Filipino culture, which is hard-working and all about family,” Jason said. “We want to keep that very close to us and always promote those two things. If we can do that playing hockey, we’ll be able to do that.”
Jason and Nick want to make an impact for their respective NHL squads whenever the league returns to action. The brothers have trained at home together daily since hockey shut down because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
They’re also hopeful to face each other in the NHL, something that would mean a lot to their parents, Jason said.
“I think that experience for them would be super emotional and very heartwarming to see their kids eventually play against each other in the NHL,” Jason said. “It’s what we’ve wanted to do our whole lives, to see that dream come true.”
Story from Red Line Editorial, Inc.
