“My whole life…I wanted to do everything he did,” Ryan said. “He started playing hockey, so I wanted to play hockey. His favorite player was my favorite player. And everything growing up, he always went to the next level, and we’re about four and a half years apart, but I got to see firsthand how hard he worked to get there… It kind of made my transition to each level much easier having him already been there. It kind of paved the way for me.”
Of course, boys will be boys, and Ryan recalled moments of completive fire, even as pros, that led to periods of time where the two wouldn’t speak after one would lose a summertime scrimmage against the other. Eventually, their parents sat the two down to make them realize their bond was more important than who won the shinny hockey game.
And then there was the scissor toss.
“One time, I got grounded for a while – I threw scissors at him, which I hit him in the back, and it was the buttend side, but I almost impaled him,” Ryan smiled as he told the story. “He’s pretty lucky to not just play 1,000 games, but to be alive with all the crazy little brother stuff I’ve done to him over the years.”
These days, their relationship has never been better, and the two shared a moment last September when they both played in a preseason game with the Preds in Florida. Their parents were there for that instance, too, just one more in a lifetime of memories thanks to a simple game.
The latest came on Thursday, and although both of their careers have more games in the rearview than ahead, the O’Reilly brothers simply love the sport and have plenty left to give. Plus, they just can’t get enough of being on the ice – especially when one gets to cheer the other on.
“He always let me tag along, and again, I don’t have my career without him,” Ryan said of Cal. “So, yeah, it’s so special.”