The Joseph family had a memorable Friday night when Pittsburgh Penguins PO Joseph and his brother Mathieu Joseph, playing for the Ottawa Senators, went head to head as NHL players for the first time. Mom and Dad were in the stands for the game for the occasion, and as only brothers can do, they timed out together due to rough behavior. together.
Upon further investigation, it appears that PO hit himself in the face with his stick and Mathieu should have skated without a high stroke penalty. While that’s the way everything is supposed to happen according to the rules of the game, your rules are considered different.
“I don’t know if they thought this would be amusing or something where we would both be awarded a penalty at the same time,” said Mathieu Joseph. “But things happen. I’m sure my parents laughed about it, but I don’t think it’s funny.”
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It doesn’t matter whose fault it was. If I’ve learned anything from life with two siblings, it’s that intent or whose fault it is that doesn’t matter. If one sibling gets hurt while another is in close proximity, both get punished. It’s only fair, and good parents don’t give preferential treatment regardless of which child is the favorite son. (There’s always a favorite, and don’t let your parents tell you otherwise. There’s no greater lie than “We love you all equally.”)
I think my favorite part of the night, other than the parents’ incredulous reaction to their boys heading toward the box, was the pregame photo op that definitely didn’t foreshadow the events.
Pittsburgh ended up winning, 4-1, but neither brother left the ice with the high ground. Seeing as the penalty was self-inflicted, maybe next time the refs will let them out of the box once they apologize to each other. I know that’s how it worked in my house.
The Joseph family are not the first siblings to have this happen. Keith and Wayne Primeau fought a match in 1997 Buffalo Sabres-Hartford Whalers Game, Brent and Rich Sutter Get Heavy Penalties against each other in the 1992 Chicago Blackhawks-St. Louis Blues Competition.
