Maple Leafs' trip to the New York/New Jersey area includes a visit to his home in New Hope, Pennsylvania.
A day off for the Toronto Maple Leafs in the New York/New Jersey area was a welcomed break for a team following a 5-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday. For Craig Berube, it was a chance to head a little bit south to the Delaware River.
"It's great to see the family, the kids. And the wife," Berube said. "And just, you know, spend some time with them, because I don't see them very often. So it was a nice, relaxing day. It would have been better if we won a game. But, you know, it's the way it goes."
Berube establish roots in the area, saying his family is “on the Jersey border, and it's like 45 minutes from here (Newark).” The coach has grown accustomed to being apart from them during hockey seasons, a sacrifice that’s followed him through his career.
And that hasn’t changed in his first season behind the bench with the Maple Leafs.
After serving as an associate coach with the St. Louis Blues from 2017 until November 2018, he was promoted to head coach, a role he held until December 2023. During that time, Berube’s family remained in New Hope, while he managed six seasons of coaching in St. Louis – living away from home and relying on short visits – as he continues to do now.
“Yeah, it's hard. I mean, I've done it for a while now, right? St. Louis was the same situation,” Berube explained. “So, you get used to it. I mean, I always say it's harder on them, the kids, and the wives than anybody else. It's difficult for me, too. But if you choose to do this, then that's some of the situations you could be in.”
Given their busy schedule and the holiday season right around the corner, a rare day off provided a much-needed opportunity for Berube to reconnect with his family. On Tuesday, after the team’s optional practice, he shared with The Hockey News that his family would be in attendance for the Maple Leafs’ game against the Devils – their second meeting of the season.
Emphasizing the family time provided a brief reset, and perhaps a renewed focus, the bench boss and the Maple Leafs are looking to secure their second straight win at the Prudential Center this season – and hoping to snap a two-game losing skid.
