JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Jacksonville Icemen have a long season ahead of them, every season.
Nick Luukko's Jacksonville Icemen have been on a winning streak, claiming victories in five consecutive games and eight of the last nine. While the players and coaches make significant sacrifices for their passion, the spotlight shifts to their families, particularly their wives.
Camille Williams, wife of Coach Charles Williams, shares, "I knew what I signed up for. That's a big part of it too, but he's gone a lot. I knew that was going to be the case."
Rachel Warncke, wife of head coach Nick Luukko, expresses her support for her husband's dream, stating, "I want him to live out his dream. I want him to come home to a stress-free house and just be able to relax when he gets home. He knew immediately he wants to get into coaching, go to the next level and then obviously the NHL one day."
Both Rachel Warncke and Camille Williams, wives of Jacksonville Icemen coaches, understand the sacrifices that come with being a coach's wife, a part of the game that is seldom discussed.
Rachel Warncke reflects on her initial year, saying, "The first year I was here, they saved me. I was just a lost little puppy here. They showed me the ins and outs."
In this unique role, these women often juggle the responsibilities of being a wife, mom, and professional. With their husbands playing up to 4 games a week, time spent away from home is substantial, making it crucial to maximize the moments they do have together.
Camille Williams notes, "He will still come home and put Cody to bed and read her bedtime stories and do bath time. It makes the time that we do spend together a little special."
While they acknowledge the challenges, love and a strong support system are deemed essential. Kate Waske, engaged to player #51, mentions, "We always take turns passing each other's kids during games and just checking in each other's lives. Those moments matter as well."
Grace Lodermeier adds, "Which is great, because being a working mom and having Liam, we're in a fortunate situation."
The Icemen wives reveal that staying on their toes is a necessity, as they never know when their husbands might get traded or released.