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For Capitals’ Mike Knuble, ‘hockey is a lifestyle’

Father of three and 15-year NHL veteran Mike Knuble keeps busy with his second job as a hockey parent.

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Capitals veteran right wing Mike Knuble, 39, opens the door for his son Cole, 7, as the two head in for practice at Kettler Capitals Iceplex. After a morning practice, Knuble returns to the rink almost every afternoon for at least one of his two sons' hockey practices. Some days, both Knuble boys have practices or games.

Toni L. Sandys / The Washington Post

Mike Knuble helps his 7-year old son, Cole get his socks on while dressing for practice.

Mike Knuble helps his 7-year old son, Cole get his socks on while dressing for practice.

Toni L. Sandys / The Washington Post

Knuble helps his 7-year-old son, Cole, get his skates on before practice. Knuble's other son, 11-year-old Cam, plays for the elite Little Capitals and his 10-year-old daughter, Anna, plays soccer and lacrosse.

Knuble helps his 7-year-old son, Cole, get his skates on before practice. Knuble's other son, 11-year-old Cam, plays for the elite Little Capitals and his 10-year-old daughter, Anna, plays soccer and lacrosse.

Toni L. Sandys / The Washington Post

Knuble helps his 7-year-old son, Cole, take his helmet off after practice. With three kids who play sports, life can get hectic for the Capitals winger. But 'my career has probably benefitted from it because you don’t have just your own hockey' to obsess about, said Knuble, a veteran of 980 NHL games.

Knuble helps his 7-year-old son, Cole, take his helmet off after practice. With three kids who play sports, life can get hectic for the Capitals winger. But "my career has probably benefitted from it because you don’t have just your own hockey" to obsess about, said Knuble, a veteran of 980 NHL games.

Toni L. Sandys / The Washington Post

Knuble waits to go on the ice with 7-year-old son Cole (not pictured) for practice one evening.

Knuble waits to go on the ice with 7-year-old son Cole (not pictured) for practice one evening.

Toni L. Sandys / The Washington Post

Knuble talks to his son Cole, 7, as he helps out with practice. 'I like it better than normal because he’s out there,' Cole said.

Knuble talks to his son Cole, 7, as he helps out with practice. "I like it better than normal because he’s out there," Cole said.

Toni L. Sandys / The Washington Post

Knuble waits for his son Cole, 7, to leave the ice after practice. 'You think of the typical rink rat dad,' said Dan Jablonic, the director of youth hockey programs at Kettler Capitals Iceplex. 'Mike is that.'

Knuble waits for his son Cole, 7, to leave the ice after practice. "You think of the typical rink rat dad," said Dan Jablonic, the director of youth hockey programs at Kettler Capitals Iceplex. "Mike is that."

Toni L. Sandys / The Washington Post

Knuble plays a game of freeze tag as he helps out with his son Cole's practice.

Knuble plays a game of freeze tag as he helps out with his son Cole's practice.

Toni L. Sandys / The Washington Post

Knuble helps out in a crowded dressing room after 7-year-old Cole's practice. 'You can see how much the kids love it' when Knuble helps out with practice, said Bill Wiggins, whose son, Graham, plays with Cole. 'We all appreciate him taking the time.'

Knuble helps out in a crowded dressing room after 7-year-old Cole's practice. "You can see how much the kids love it" when Knuble helps out with practice, said Bill Wiggins, whose son, Graham, plays with Cole. "We all appreciate him taking the time."

Toni L. Sandys / The Washington Post

Knuble checks in with his wife Megan as son Cam, 11, hands him his hockey stick after a practice at Kettler Capitals Iceplex. Megan was coming to pick up Cam and drop off their other son, 7-year-old Cole, for practice.

Knuble checks in with his wife Megan as son Cam, 11, hands him his hockey stick after a practice at Kettler Capitals Iceplex. Megan was coming to pick up Cam and drop off their other son, 7-year-old Cole, for practice.

Toni L. Sandys / The Washington Post

Knuble talks with his wife, Megan, as they swap kids outside of Kettler Capitals Iceplex. Megan keeps the family organized with a color-coordinated dry-erase board and and a carefully choreographed network of carpools.

Knuble talks with his wife, Megan, as they swap kids outside of Kettler Capitals Iceplex. Megan keeps the family organized with a color-coordinated dry-erase board and and a carefully choreographed network of carpools.

Toni L. Sandys / The Washington Post

Knuble's 10-year-old daughter, Anna, listens to her coach during a lacrosse game.

Knuble's 10-year-old daughter, Anna, listens to her coach during a lacrosse game.

Toni L. Sandys / The Washington Post

Knuble and his wife, Megan, cheer at their daughter Anna's lacrosse game in Bethesda.

Knuble and his wife, Megan, cheer at their daughter Anna's lacrosse game in Bethesda.

Toni L. Sandys / The Washington Post

On a recent Sunday, Cole Knuble was supposed to play in a 1 p.m. hockey game, but the whole family met at Anna's lacrosse game instead. 'Sometimes I just don’t want to be split up,' Megan said.

On a recent Sunday, Cole Knuble was supposed to play in a 1 p.m. hockey game, but the whole family met at Anna's lacrosse game instead. "Sometimes I just don’t want to be split up," Megan said.

Toni L. Sandys / The Washington Post

Knuble talks with his daughter Anna, 10, as they watch 11-year-old Cam play in a game at Kettler Capitals Iceplex.

Knuble talks with his daughter Anna, 10, as they watch 11-year-old Cam play in a game at Kettler Capitals Iceplex.

Toni L. Sandys / The Washington Post

Cam Knuble, 11, gets ready to start a shift during a game at Kettler Capitals Iceplex.

Cam Knuble, 11, gets ready to start a shift during a game at Kettler Capitals Iceplex.

Toni L. Sandys / The Washington Post

Cam Knuble, 11, son of Capitals right wing Mike Knuble, has the puck bounce off his skate as he tries to score during a game at Kettler Capitals Iceplex.

Cam Knuble, 11, son of Capitals right wing Mike Knuble, has the puck bounce off his skate as he tries to score during a game at Kettler Capitals Iceplex.

Toni L. Sandys / The Washington Post

Cam Knuble, 11, son of Washington Capitals right wing Mike Knuble, watches his team from the bench. Having a dad who plays in the NHL is 'really good because I get to learn from my dad and a lot of the pros,' Cam said. 'They can teach me how to do things the way they do them.'

Cam Knuble, 11, son of Washington Capitals right wing Mike Knuble, watches his team from the bench. Having a dad who plays in the NHL is "really good because I get to learn from my dad and a lot of the pros," Cam said. "They can teach me how to do things the way they do them."

Toni L. Sandys / WASHINGTON POST

Capitals winger Mike Knuble walks through the stands at Kettler Capitals Iceplex while watching his son, Cole, practice.

Mike Knuble

Capitals winger Mike Knuble walks through the stands at Kettler Capitals Iceplex while watching his son, Cole, practice.

Toni L. Sandys / The Washington Post

Capitals right wing Mike Knuble poses for a picture with his college roommate Rick Willis and their sons, Cole and Cam Knuble and Jake Willis, after a game. Willis coaches the Wilkes-Barre team that 11-year-old Cam's team had just played.

Capitals right wing Mike Knuble poses for a picture with his college roommate Rick Willis and their sons, Cole and Cam Knuble and Jake Willis, after a game. Willis coaches the Wilkes-Barre team that 11-year-old Cam's team had just played.

Toni L. Sandys / WASHINGTON POST

Knuble leaves Kettler Capitals Iceplex with sons Cam, 11, and Cole, 7, after Cam's game. Being a hockey parent is like a pressure valve for Knuble. 'You’re not just beating yourself up about things,' he said. 'There's other things to think about.'

Knuble leaves Kettler Capitals Iceplex with sons Cam, 11, and Cole, 7, after Cam's game. Being a hockey parent is like a pressure valve for Knuble. "You’re not just beating yourself up about things," he said. "There's other things to think about."

Toni L. Sandys / The Washington Post

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