It takes a village | Pittsburgh Penguins

As the deadline for filing opening lists approached Monday, Rutger McGroarty's family anxiously awaited news of his future.

“On Monday we sat at full speed all day,” said his mother, Cindy. “We were in the living room and the house is immaculate because of all the nervous energy floating around.”

“You just never know what situation he’s going to be in. But at the end of the day he was so excited,” his father Jimmy added. “You could tell by his energy because we know how he’s feeling. When he called, it was just so exciting and overwhelming and honestly surreal for us.”

After Rutger spoke with his parents and girlfriend Kayleigh, he called his older sister Molly, who is attending nursing school. She had clinical treatments scheduled in the ICU but had her phone in her pocket. Molly warned the nurse she worked with that at any moment she would receive a call with good or bad news and would have to answer it.

When Rutgers' name appeared on the screen, she responded quickly and “I could tell by his voice what he wanted to say,” Molly said. “So it was pretty exciting, all full of happiness and energy.”

During that time, Cindy had called her father, Roger — Rutgers' namesake — to tell him the news. “He’s 85 years old and he’s trying to figure it out on social media before we can call him,” she said with a laugh. They then organized the trip for the group to travel to Pittsburgh. His immediate family traveled from Michigan, where Jimmy works as GM of the Muskegon Lumberjacks of the USHL. Extended family members flew in from Nebraska, where Rutger spent the first part of his childhood.

“On Monday, with this nervous energy, we went through the list of people who were on this trip, and the lists just go on and on,” Cindy said. “We couldn’t be more grateful for everyone who has been a part of this journey. That was probably the most profound thing of the week, it’s just kind of a look back at everyone who was there.”

The group of 13 in person took their seats and watched Rutger do his rookie lap during warmups. For Jimmy, the situation was clear even before his son stepped onto the ice for the first time.

“It takes a village to make this happen,” he said. “Kids have dreams in life and that was Rutgers’ dream and we helped him get to where he wanted to be. Today it succeeded. I think it finally hit me during the national anthem. You know, it's the New York Rangers and the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Just seeing Sidney Crosby, Malkin, Letang and all those guys on the ice makes me think it's finally dawn. All the hard work Rutger has put in, it’s really great to see what he’s done and we’re thrilled and proud of him.”

His success did not come without sacrifice. Jimmy, a former professional player himself, moved with 10-year-old Rutger from Nebraska to Michigan to further his hockey career, while Cindy and Molly stayed behind in Nebraska. Cindy's mother, who would have been 84 tomorrow, was ill.

“So we lived a very unconventional life for six years,” Cindy said, “until we finally all moved back in together under one roof. It was great to be all together again. It was incredible.”

Rutger is very close to his family and spent much of the summer enjoying time together before embarking on the next phase of his career: being a full-time hockey player. His No. 1 fans wouldn't have missed the first step on this journey for the world. “Being here tonight is kind of a 'pinch me' moment,” Cindy said.

And having her here meant the world to Rutger.

“They travel all over the world to watch me all the time. Whether it was Sweden, Pittsburgh or wherever, they always traveled to watch me play,” he said. “So I’m really grateful for them. And without her I wouldn't be here. Every person who was here tonight, everyone who came and watched tonight had a huge impact on my life and my hockey career. So I’m grateful that they could be here.”