For those outside the Washington, DC area seeking a holiday feel-good story, the NHL has one for you. It is also inspiring for all young people playing team sports in their formative years.
Brandon Duhaime, 27, and Jakob Chychrun, 26, were childhood friends in Florida. Their dads coached them in preschool hockey. Duhaime, known as “Dewey” by Chychrun’s family, and Chychrun’s sisters are also friends. Though they went their separate ways in their hockey careers, both were drafted in the 2016 NHL Draft. Duhaime was the 106th overall pick for the Minnesota Wild. Chychrun was the 16th pick of the Arizona Coyotes.
Their careers progressed until they again intersected on the first day of NHL free agency: July 1, 2024, when the Washington Capitals signed Duhaime to a two-year contract and traded for Chychrun on the same day. Jeff Chychrun, Jakob’s dad, who contributes to Florida Panthers broadcasts, found out the news while flying home from the Florida Panthers Stanley Cup parade.
Both Duhaime and Chychrun have been fixtures on the Capitals roster this season. Duhaime, a winger, has played 22 games, scoring 4 goals and 3 assists. Chychrun, a defenseman, has played in 16 games, scoring 6 goals and 6 assists. In their careers, Chychrun has the edge in goals with 82, and Duhaime has 24.
From childhood friends watching their idols, including Sidney Crosby, to NHL teammates, Brandon Duhaime and Jakob Chychrun’s families and stories are forever linked.
Time to reunite Brandon Duhaime and Jakob Chychrun #mnwild pic.twitter.com/rS8gYF6zDD
— Alex Micheletti (@AlexMicheletti) January 13, 2023
The pair are on a Washington Capitals team that is off to a great start. At 16-6-1, the Caps are tied in second place in the Metropolitan Division with the Carolina Hurricanes behind division leader New Jersey.
