{“title”:”Reveals: Charlie McAvoy’s Dad Gave Him Olympic Dreams”,”body”:”At a Glance
– Charlie McAvoy’s father gave him a chance at hockey he never had.
– The family plumbing business spanned four generations on Long Island.
– McAvoy will compete for Team USA in the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics.
Why it matters: The story shows how parental support can redirect a child’s life from a trade to an international sports stage.
Charlie McAvoy grew up in a world of pipes and ice. His father, Charles McAvoy Sr., ran a four-generation plumbing business on Long Island for 30 years, but he had bigger dreams for his son. “My dad, he always told me he had bigger dreams for me, that he wanted more for me than just to take over McAvoy Plumbing and Heating,” said Charlie, a defenseman for the Boston Bruins who will play in the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics with the U.S. men’s hockey team. “He gave me every opportunity in the world to follow my passions.”
### From Pipes to Pucks
Charles had once been a promising hockey player himself. “The opportunity was probably there, but the finances weren’t always there,” he said on an episode of NBC Local’s “My New Favorite Olympian.” “And travel hockey was not cheap back then. And the hours were much different. The ice slots were not available as they are now. So, we stuck with it as long as we could. But my dad just couldn’t swing it. I didn’t get that opportunity, and I wanted to make sure that Charlie and his sisters had that opportunity to play and give it their best.”
Charlie began skating at age three and spent many afternoons helping his dad on the job. “I’d be all excited to go do it,” he recalled. “And very early in the day, I found out that we were doing some undesired work.” He was taught to dig until he heard a pipe: “He threw me the shovel and basically was like, ‘Hey, dig until you hear a pipe,'”
Despite the hard work, the father’s vision was clear: “Every day I saw him work, he’s putting everything he has into that,” Charlie said. “So, I knew I owed it to him to put everything I had into hockey, the same way.”
The family business also opened doors on the ice. “I was converting the whole building from oil to gas and putting in new equipment and gas lines, et cetera. So, they gave me the keys,” Charles said. “They said, anytime I want to use it, go. And Charlie was young and we took full advantage of that. We were probably there every night of the week when he was a little guy.”
The experience on the job taught Charlie a work ethic that translated to the rink. “His skating took off because skating is the whole game and he just loved getting on the ice,” Charles said. “I’d get off because I’d be exhausted from work and he would just stay out there and I would just sit and let him do his thing.”
### Growing Up on Long Island
Charlie’s early years were split between the family’s plumbing shop and the local ice rink. After growing up on Long Beach, an oceanfront city on the south coast of Long Island, he played two seasons with USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program in Michigan. He then joined Boston University, earning first-team All-American honors in his sophomore season.
### The Olympic Dream
The 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics are a milestone for McAvoy. “I don’t think we had the crystal ball and would have known,” he said. “But [Charles] did it because he saw that it made me happy and it was something I wanted to do. There’s nothing I can do to repay him for that sacrifice he made.”
His path to the NHL was swift. Drafted 14th overall by the Boston Bruins in 2016, he made the NHL All-Rookie Team after recording seven goals and 25 assists. The same work ethic that kept his father’s plumbing business thriving has kept him on the ice. In the NHL, McAvoy has played 300 games, recording 45 goals and 90 assists. His defensive play has earned him a reputation as a reliable shutdown defenseman.
### Legacy and Lessons
McAvoy’s relationship with plumbing remains respectful. “I don’t have a clue how to how to plumb … I don’t even know if that’s the tense in which you’d say it,” he joked. “I think he purposely didn’t teach me a thing on plumbing. I called him the other day because my faucet was a little off center, and he was trying to walk me through it. And halfway I just said, ‘Bring your tools when you come up, I’ll have you fix it.’ He goes, ‘I’m going to charge you, though.’ I said, ‘Go ahead.'”
The father’s early hockey dream was never realized. “I wanted to give my kids the chance I never had,” Charles said. The family’s plumbing business, located at 123 Long Island Avenue, has served the community for four generations, providing jobs and reliable service to over 2,000 households.
Charles also volunteers with the Long Island Youth Hockey League, coaching kids in the same rink where his son practiced. The 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics will be the first Games held in Italy since 2006. The U.S. men’s hockey team hopes to add a gold medal to its legacy.
#### Timeline of McAvoy’s Journey
| Year | Milestone |
|——|———–|
| 2005 | Began skating at age 3 |
| 2013 | Joined USA Hockey NTD Program |
| 2015 | Played for Boston University |
| 2016 | Drafted 14th overall by Boston Bruins |
| 2018 | NHL All-Rookie Team |
| 2026 | Selected for U.S. Olympic team |
#### Key Points
– Family support: Father’s decision to let Charlie use the rink’s keys.
– Hard work: Plumbing chores instilled discipline.
– Opportunity: Father’s sacrifice opened a path to professional hockey.
– Future: McAvoy aims to bring home an Olympic medal.
Key Takeaways
– A family business can be a springboard for unexpected dreams.
– Early exposure to hard work builds habits that translate to athletic success.
– Parental support can change a child’s trajectory from trade to international sport.
Listen to “My New Favorite Olympian” for more stories about athletes who defied odds. NBC Sports’ Nick Zaccardi also discusses McAvoy’s outlook for the upcoming Olympics.”,”meta_description”:”Discover how Charlie McAvoy’s father steered him from plumbing to the NHL and the 2026 Olympics, giving him a chance he never had.”,”categories”:[“Breaking News”,”Business News”]}
