“Did They Just Tom Brady Each Other?”: Amidst Heated NHL Draft, Fans Witness Wholesome Scene Melting the Ice Rink

The NHL arena is more than just a stage for epic battles to be seen around the globe. It’s also where thousands of ice hockey fans gather to cheer on their favorite players or rip them to shreds as new generations of players develop and eventually move on. It’s all about the fame and fortune that have come from participating in a sport that has been around for more than a century. Dreams are being created and broken during this year’s NHL draft, sending fans, players, and anyone else involved on an emotional roller coaster. And any fan of college ice hockey in the United States is likely familiar with the University of Michigan’s Adam Fantilli and Gavin Brindley. The two best prospects in the NHL made a massive statement on Saturday, which shocked the ice hockey community.

For a junior ice hockey player to be selected in the first round of the draft, as Gavin Brindley was, is very unusual. When the Columbus Blue Jackets signed the 18-year-old on Saturday, who was the happiest person in the room? Adam Fantilli, his teammate at the University of Michigan. The NHL’s social media post of two junior ice hockey players sharing a touching moment has warmed the hearts of viewers more than the rink.

New stakes inside the rink of the NHL

The NHL arena sees some big fights on the ice, but it also captures tender moments between teammates. Each team features a total of 18 players and two goaltenders; the Columbus Blue Jackets are no exception. The Blue Jackets, who had a subpar 2022–23 season and promised to improve by drafting fresh talent, delivered in spades. They were able to squeeze in Adam Fantilli and Gavin Brindley, two of Michigan’s biggest talents, in a couple of days.

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Because of how quickly NHL selections go, some promising junior players may slip through the cracks. This was a major concern for Fantilli, who was “crossing” his fingers that he wouldn’t wind up on different teams from his longtime teammate and friend Gavin Brindley. The two players were overjoyed by the news that Brindley had been signed by the Blue Jackets shortly after Fantilli. Fantilli went towards Brindley in the Instagram video, giving him a bear embrace to demonstrate that their relationship goes deeper than the ice in the rink.

The fans’ reactions to the display of love and bromance between these two junior ice hockey teammates absolutely melted the internet.

Something much more than the sport

Seeing individuals become emotional over a sporting event is rather common. The whole NHL community saw this during this year’s draft process. Adam Fantilli and Gavin Brindley’s bromance have captivated the hearts of many, who have flocked to the comments to express their delight.

They two hugged each other in an iconic way, as this fan commented, saying, “Did they just Tom Brady each other?” This fan was just moved by this little celebration coming from the junior stars; as they say, “It’ll take some time but this might become one of the best bromances in the league someday.”

As this was a huge pick for the team, this fan said, “Columbus is coming back soon. Give them 2-3 years they will be feared in my opinion.” It looks like the team also made a bit of marketing from this, as this user commented, saying, “Apparently I just became a Blue Jackets fan; love this!”

With both players now looking forward to the 2023–24 NHL season, their embrace will be forever etched into hockey lore.

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