"Chris Conner still can't believe it sometimes, figuring the odds are astronomical.

Conner and Vancouver's Ryan Kesler lived in the same neighborhood in Westland growing up, playing hockey whenever they could.

Both would, obviously, reach the NHL.

"I've thought about that," Conner said. "Maybe something like the Staal brothers, but they're all from the same family, it's a little bit different. It is kind of wild when you think about it.

"I'd stay about 10 houses apart," Conner said. "We met in kindergarten, went to the same elementary (Washington) and middle (Frost) schools. Went to (Livonia) Churchill for high school. We grew up together.

"We played hockey all the time. His dad had a pond so Ryan, his older brother, and I would be out there all the time.""