Today I am sitting down with someone who I can only describe as the true trifecta of the hockey world. Carlin McCrimmon-Phillips grew up as a hockey daughter, became a hockey wife, and now navigates life as a hockey coach's wife. She is the daughter of the late Brad McCrimmon, an 18-year NHL veteran, Stanley Cup champion, and beloved coach whose name is forever etched into the fabric of this game.

This episode is one that I have been looking forward to for a long time, and I want to say upfront that Carlin approached this conversation with such grace, such warmth, and such incredible honesty that I truly had no words at times. We start at the very beginning, September 7, 2011, the date when everything in her life changed, and Carlin walks us through that unimaginable morning in a way that is raw, real, and at times even surprisingly beautiful.

This conversation is one I will never forget, so Carlin, thank you for trusting me with your story. This one is truly special.

For listeners, we'd love to hear your thoughts on this episode, so let us know over on Instagram, @wereinonepod, and you don't want to miss the conclusion of my talk with this incredible guest, and human being, next time on the podcast!

Just some of the highlights you'll hear:

• How Carlin found out about the plane crash on the morning of September 7, 2011 and what that first day looked like for her family

• Why her dad's goodbye the morning he left for Russia felt different from any other goodbye their family had ever had

• How Hockey Canada, the Canadian Consulate, and the people around them made it possible to bring him home and what this meant to her

• The way Carlin's family leaned on the Probert family, who understood their loss in a way few others could

• How they honoured Brad at their first year in Calgary, and why hearing his voice for the first time on that tribute video hit differently for everyone in the room

• What Carlin did at her wedding just three weeks ago to make sure her dad was there without making it sad

• What it was really like growing up as Brad McCrimmon's daughter, from playing laser tag in the basement in Saskatoon to culture shock in Atlanta where nobody really knew what hockey was

• Why Atlanta turned out to be one of her favourite chapters despite being the hardest move

• The culture of giving back that was woven into their family from day one, and why Carlin was the kid asking her mom if she could skip school to go to Children's Hospital of Atlanta

LINKS:

Brad McCrimmon's Hockey Profile

Plane crash kills KHL team in hockey's 'darkest day'