‘Dream come true’: How Rick Vaive’s son Justin is having a full-circle moment with the Maple Leafs

Justin Vaive walked into the dressing room at the Ford Performance Centre, saw a Maple Leafs practice jersey illuminating in his stall with his father’s No. 22 and chuckled. 
He had never worn the number before in his professional career, but the training staff ensured things would be different.
“It’s another thing I can connect with my dad about and, in 10 or 20 years, look back on,” Vaive said. “It’s something I’ll definitely never forget.”
Vaive, captain of the Leafs’ ECHL affiliate, the Cincinnati Cyclones, has been practising with Marlies players this week alongside several of his ECHL teammates before they head back to Cincinnati next week for pre-season games. He is using his short time in the city to establish a connection with his father, Rick Vaive, through the Leafs. 
Growing up in Toronto, Justin Vaive heard plenty of stories about his father’s playing days, and he experienced some of it firsthand. Before Auston Matthews broke the Leafs’ record for most goals in a single season in 2022, Rick Vaive stood atop that leaderboard, with 54 in 1981-82.
Fans would recognize him walking downtown and ask for pictures. Justin Vaive didn’t know what it all meant as a kid, but he soon realized.
“This city is something special,” he said. “That’s why I know he loves being here.” 
The Cyclones became the Leafs’ new ECHL affiliate in July. Justin Vaive found out about the change a few days before the official announcement and immediately texted his father.
He said his phone rang within five minutes. His dad was on the other line, excited about the news. 
“He was really fired up,” Vaive said. “I think he was just happy for me and happy to have another thing we could talk about.” 
Vaive’s connection to the Leafs go beyond his father. He played with John Tavares in his youth hockey days on the Toronto Marlboros, where he last wore 22. They won GTHL championships in minor bantam and bantam, playing on what some described as “the greatest minor hockey team in history.”
They haven’t run into each other during Vaive’s time at camp, but being in a similar environment has brought back fond memories.
“We still have a group chat with all of the guys (from the Marlboros),” he said. 
Vaive has another thing in common with his father: being a captain. 
Rick Vaive captained the Leafs from 1981 to 1986, before he was stripped of his role for sleeping through a morning practice. His son was named the Cyclones captain in 2018 and will continue in the role this season. 
Cincinnati head coach Jason Payne described Justin Vaive as a constant professional who leads by example.
“He’ll do whatever it takes to make everybody happy and try to make everybody fit in,” Payne said. “Nobody has had a bad thing to say about him.” 
A Toronto native, Payne watched Rick Vaive play for the Leafs when he was a kid. He went to Christie Pits as a part of summer camp, where there just happened to be a softball event with Leafs players. 
As a young, enthused hockey fan vying for his first NHL signature, Payne got a card and asked a player for an autograph, not recognizing who it was. Later, he looked at the card, and the signature read, “Rick Vaive.” 
Payne has reminded the Vaives of the story plenty of times. “I tell (Rick) that story when he comes, and now I get to coach his son,” he said. “Life just goes full circle.”
Another tale Justin is familiar with from his father’s playing days is when Brendan Shanahan attacked him during a game for snubbing him for an autograph years before. The Vaives never delved into the incident with each other, but Justin Vaive has seen the footage. 
At an NHL all-star game years later, Shanahan, now the Leafs president of hockey operations, made sure karma wasn’t out to get him by giving young Justin Vaive a signature and a piggyback ride.
“There are so many memories like that I got to experience through my dad,” he said. “It’s pretty funny to think about that. I’m 35 years old standing here, and we’re talking about it, but it’s cool. ”
Despite it only being training camp, Payne said “it’s special” watching Justin put on the jersey with the Leafs logo on its front, knowing it’s a moment he will cherish for many years. 
“Not many people get the chance to do it,” he said. “But he will.” 
Justin Vaive said this training camp experience reinforces his values as a professional hockey player. He spent the early parts of his career bouncing around different teams in the AHL and ECHL, and that taught him many lessons. One thing has always stuck with him: having fun. 
“It’s just something I’ve learned not to take for granted,” he said. “Just enjoy your time being here.” 
He said he’ll take back plenty of the on-ice systems from the camp to Cincinnati. But a memory that will always stay with him is when he first wore the Leafs practice jersey with his father’s number.
“Being a part of this camp and organization has almost been a dream come true.”