Yahoo Sports 'It’s A Terrible Situation, Just Praying For It To End’: Maple Leafs’ Nick Robertson, Brother Jason, React To Los Angeles Wildfires Amid Family Concerns In California
When the Toronto Maple Leafs face off against the Dallas Stars, much of the discussion typically centers around the sibling rivalry between younger brother Nick and older brother Jason Robertson.
Though the brothers are still focused on their second clash of the season on Tuesday, their attention has also been drawn to a much more pressing concern: the devastating wildfires raging in Los Angeles, California.
The Robertson brothers were born in Arcadia, California, near Pasadena, before relocating to Michigan with their siblings to further their athletic pursuits. Despite living in Toronto and Dallas for their respective careers, the Robertson family home remains in California, where their sister still resides. The fires have forced some family members to evacuate, though their home has fortunately been spared from direct damage.
“Thankfully, the fire literally just went right around – it was right where we live – it went right around the house,” Nick said. “Thank you to the firefighters there. Obviously, it’s not a very good situation but thankfully my family is safe.”
The emotional weight of the fires was evident as Nick described his reaction upon hearing the news.
“I’ve seen fires before, and obviously it’s devastating. But this one, of this magnitude, is crazy,” he said. “I’ve been calling my parents and family members, asking how they’re doing. Fortunately, my family hasn’t been too badly affected by it. There’s debris, and it's still not good to go home, but it’s not at the point where the house is going to go down. It’s a terrible situation – just praying for it to end.”
While managing his NHL duties with the Maple Leafs, Nick admitted that the situation has been a constant source of concern. When asked how much the ordeal has taken a toll on him and his family, Nick said, “I mean, a lot. Fortunately, like I said, not too badly affected by it, but I’m dealing with this (competing with the Leafs), and I look at my phone and there are fires and you’re wondering where your family is at.”
In the opposing locker room, Jason echoed his younger brother’s sentiments. He expressed his disappointment over the wildfires and the toll they’ve taken on their family and the California community. He reflected on the emotional strain of watching the devastation unfold, knowing their family home was at risk.
“We didn’t move out of our house, but we rarely come home,” Jason shared. “It’s pretty devastating what’s going on out there. We have our fires but then the Palisades fires are pretty bad too. It’s definitely disappointing. Our house hasn’t been exactly affected, but certainly right around it too. It’s going to be a long time before everything is still back to normal but hopefully, it comes to an end soon.”
“It’s my family house. My sister lives there and then my older sister had to evacuate. She’s safe and the house is safe. I mean, it’s just devastating when you see all the people,” he added.
Despite the tragedy, Jason mentioned the Los Angeles Rams’ decision to continue competing as a source of escapism and inspiration. The team rallied for a win on Monday night against the Minnesota Vikings, advancing to the Divisional Round in the NFL Playoffs.
The Rams were forced to move what was supposed to be a home playoff game to State Farm Stadium in Arizona due to the circumstances, ensuring the game could still proceed as scheduled.
“I watched the Rams play last night, I thought that was pretty inspiring – what they’re doing, how they’re still competing,” Jason said. “They're still competing and you see another sports team. It’s definitely kind of nice to have that kind of escape. It’s not even over yet – you see the destruction, you see everything. Obviously, it's time to regrow but right now it’s hard to think about it.”
For the Robertson brothers, hockey has offered some distraction. However, their thoughts remain firmly with their family and the countless others affected by the ongoing wildfires.
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