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Wendel Clark, Doug Gilmour, Joe Thornton among invitees to Maple Leafs’ mentors trip

Originally posted on TheLeafsnation | By Michael Mazzei | Last updated Jan 6, 2025 10:00 AM ET

The Toronto Maple Leafs will be embarking on a mentors trip this week while on the road to face the Philadelphia Flyers and Carolina Hurricanes.

The trip is a chance for the team to bring together people that the players looked up to at various points in their hockey careers and lives. They will be in attendance for the two-game road trip to cheer on the Leafs as they begin the second half of their regular season schedule.

When asked about what the trip would mean to the players and their mentors, head coach Craig Berube said it would be a special moment for both parties involved.

“ That’s great. We had them in there for the meeting,” he said after Sunday’s game. “ Just the players and trainers and coaches, whoever wanted to bring them in for it. I mean, it’s exciting and it’s great for those guys because they love it. They love being in the meetings and hearing how we talk and show video and do things like that. So it’s a special trip, whether it’s a father’s, mother’s trip. It’s the first time I’ve been on a mentor’s trip.”

The full list of people invited to this trip is unknown at the time of filing, but a few names were revealed during Sunday’s festivities. Winnipeg Blue Bombers coach Mike O’Shea will be in attendance along with invitees Wendel Clark and Doug Gilmour, who were seen posing for a photo with Joe Thornton.

Joe Thornton took a pic with @douggilmour and @wendelclark17 ahead of the @MapleLeafs' mentors trip pic.twitter.com/u55GphXhGA

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) January 5, 2025

Matthew Knies revealed that he will be bringing his older brother, Phil, to the trip who is excited to be back in a hockey environment nearly two years after playing his last game.

“ I think it’s probably nostalgic for him,” he said. “He played hockey too, so being in a locker room and being around the guys, I think he’s probably missing a little bit. But I’m happy he’s here. It’s going to be a fun time for him and all of us.”

Defenceman Morgan Rielly is also looking forward to this trip, noting that he felt it will be a special few days with each player’s respective mentor.

“ It’s great. We’ve all got people in town,” he said. “They were at the game tonight. We’re leaving tomorrow, so it’ll be a lot of fun.”

As mentioned earlier, Thornton was invited to the trip and it turns out that captain Auston Matthews chose the former Leaf to come along for the festivities. The two spent a season together during the 2021 COVID-shortened campaign and even got to spend time on the same line along with Mitch Marner.

They have remained good friends ever since, with the two seen taking in UFC fights on numerous occasions including one occasion where they were joined by Justin Bieber. Berube feels that a future Hall of Famer part of the trip is no doubt going to be one of the highlights of the trip for the players.

“It’s great to see him,” he said. A special player obviously. Great player for a long time in this league. He’s pretty close to a lot of these guys from playing here and stuff. So it’s great to have him with us.”

The first game of this mentors trip is on Tuesday when the Leafs have a rematch with the Flyers in Philadelphia.

This article first appeared on TheLeafsnation and was syndicated with permission.

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