When you think of hockey dynasties, names like the Sutters or the Staals might come to mind, but the Reinharts are carving out their own legacy. At the center of it all is Sam Reinhart, the Florida Panthers’ clutch forward who sealed the 2024 Stanley Cup with a legendary Game 7 goal. But behind every great player is an even greater family, and Sam’s story is woven with love, sibling rivalry, and a dad who blazed the trail before him. Let’s dive into the tight-knit world of the Reinharts, from Sam’s wife, Jessica, to his hockey-mad brothers and his All-Star father.
The Reinhart Roots: A Hockey Family Through and Through
Sam Reinhart didn’t just stumble into hockey, he was born into it. His dad, Paul Reinhart, was a two-time NHL All-Star who spent a decade in the league with the Flames and Canucks before back injuries forced an early retirement. Paul wasn’t just a player; he was a mentor, though he never pushed his sons into the sport. Instead, he let them find their own way, which, in true Canadian fashion, meant lacing up skates almost as soon as they could walk.
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Sam’s mom, Theresa, is the unsung hero of the family. While Paul handled the on-ice advice, Theresa was the glue, juggling three competitive boys who loved to wrestle (sometimes to the point of setting the house on fire; more on that later). She wasn’t a hockey fan before marrying Paul, but she became one fast, traveling to every tournament and even doing her sons’ laundry during World Juniors.
Then there are the brothers: Max and Griffin. The Reinhart trio is one of the few sets of siblings to all make it to the NHL, though Max and Griffin have since retired. Max, the oldest, was a third-round pick by the Flames and played a handful of NHL games before heading overseas. Griffin, the middle child, was a top-five draft pick (Islanders, 2012) and won a Memorial Cup with the Edmonton Oil Kings. But Sam? He outdid them both, going second overall in 2014 and now etching his name in Panthers history.
Growing up, the Reinhart boys were fiercely competitive, whether on the ice or in the living room. There was the infamous “futon incident,” where Sam and Griffin accidentally set the house on fire while wrestling. (Their punishment? A two-week stay at a luxury hotel while the house was repaired.) And while they razzed each other endlessly, they were also each other’s biggest supporters. When Sam was drafted, Griffin—fresh off his own NHL debut—gave him a signed stick with the note: “Now it’s your turn.”
Sam’s Own Family: Love, Pandemics, and a Fairytale Wedding
While hockey runs deep in the Reinhart blood, Sam Reinhart’s personal life took a romantic turn when he met Jessica Jewell in 2020. Their love story reads like a rom-com: they met just as the pandemic hit, and what was supposed to be a short visit to Sam’s family in Vancouver turned into an eight-month stay. Talk about a crash course in bonding! By March 2020, they were officially a couple, and by Christmas 2021, Sam popped the question.
Jessica isn’t just a hockey WAG, she’s a certified health nut with a degree in human ecology and a career in medical care. She’s worked as a nutritionist, a medical assistant, and even a business development exec, proving she’s as driven off the ice as Sam is on it. But unlike some NHL partners, she keeps a low profile, avoiding social media frenzy and letting her work speak for itself.
Their wedding in July 2023 was pure magic. Held at Hummingbird Nest Ranch in California, it was a rustic-chic affair with white flowers, travertine stone accents, and a silk gown with a cape that made Jessica look like a woodland fairy. Their first dance? To Matt Stell’s “Prayed for You”—because nothing says “meant to be” like a country love song. The guest list was intimate (150 close friends and family), and Sam’s childhood best friend officiated, making it a full-circle moment.
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As for kids? The couple hasn’t announced any yet, but given how family-centric Sam is—remember, he lived with his parents and Jessica for eight months during COVID—it’s safe to say they’ll raise the next generation of Reinhart children with the same mix of competitiveness and love that shaped him.
The Reinhart Legacy: More Than Just Hockey
What makes the Reinharts special isn’t just their talent, it’s their bond. Whether it’s his father, Paul, quietly cheering from the stands, his mother, Theresa, hauling laundry between tournaments, or Sam and his wife Jessica building their own love story amid the chaos of the NHL, this family proves that hockey is more than a game. It’s a shared passion, a lifetime of inside jokes, and, occasionally, a reason to set the house on fire. And for Sam? That’s the real win: Stanley Cup or not.
