Barkov Father and Son Celebrate Hockey Championships Together

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov felt more nerves than usual during his drive to Baptist Health Ice Plex on Saturday. While his team aimed for a 3-0 series lead against the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Final, his father, Alexander Barkov Sr., was busy coaching MHK Spartak Moskva in Game 7 of the MHL Championship over 5,700 miles away.

“I couldn’t watch it, but I was following,” Barkov said about his father’s game. Barkov Sr. and Spartak Moskva triumphed over SKA-1946 St. Petersburg, winning the MHL’s Kharlamov Cup with a commanding 6-2 victory.

“It was great,” Barkov stated of watching his dad hoist the Cup. “They had a really good team and won almost every game during the regular season. I knew they had a strong chance in the playoffs.”

The journey to victory mirrored that of the Panthers. “It ended up being the same way we did it last year,” Barkov smiled, noting both teams went from being up 3-0 to facing a tied series before winning in Game 7.

After Spartak’s victory, Barkov Sr. acknowledged the Panthers in a special shoutout. After a loss in Game 4, Barkov sent an encouraging video to his dad’s team featuring other Panthers players. “That was the secret to winning,” Barkov Sr. explained. “It was a quick video, nothing special, but I really appreciated it.”

Involving family in hockey has helped strengthen their bond. “We talk about myself, and then we talk about him,” Barkov noted. With the Panthers leading the Hurricanes 3-1, the prospect of his father joining him in South Florida excites Barkov. “I know he’s probably celebrating right now, but I hope so,” he added with a smile.