Dad Of Kraken's Brandon Tanev Is Enjoying Rides (Hockey & Equestrian)

Above Photo: Brothers Brandon Tanev (13) and Chris Tanev (3).

The apple doesn't fall far from the tree, as the saying goes. And the googly eyes don't google far from their family tree, either (which no one has ever said until just now).

Seattle Kraken fans are well aware of the googly eyes in question, belonging to energetic forward Brandon Tanev. His wide-eyed annual portrait photo has become stuff of legend - or gone viral, as the kids like to say.

Sibling Chris Tanev of the Dallas Stars plays with the same reckless abandon, which has made both Tanevs fan favorites wherever they've been. It might be Brandon skating off the ice after warmups at breakneck speed, or Chris blocking a shot with his face to preserve a win while playing in Calgary.

About his younger brother's unique portrait photo, Chris once said, "Maybe he saw a ghost before they shot the picture."

Father Of Tanev Boys Loves To Horse Around

Now we have a better understanding of where this joie de vivre comes from.

Father Mike Tanev was in Dallas recently to watch Chris during this year's Stanley Cup playoffs. But as Harness Racing Update reported , he was keeping an eye on his phone at the same time. "Mike races 'about 10 horses' in North America, but is now up to 'about 15, including mares and foals' across Australia and New Zealand."

Dad Tanev was following the exploits of his Down Under mounts, "Headed by star 5-year-old mare Aardies Express, who recently beat local champion Ladies In Red in Australia’s biggest mares’ race in Sydney."

Why "Aardies?" Mike has a most Tanev explanation. “It’s my nickname,” he said. “It’s what everybody calls me. It goes back to when I was 18 and playing baseball. I’ve got a big nose and the guys called me ‘Aardie, the Aardvark.'

"So, when I really started getting into the horses, I wanted to build a brand and Aardie it was. Any horses I buy, I change their names if I possibly can.”

Living in Toronto where he's a car broker, the elder Tanev doesn't let time zones get in his way. "I don’t drink, I don’t smoke and I don’t gamble anymore, either,” Mike said. “If I’m up late watching games or the alarm wakes me at 3:30 a.m. to watch a race at Albion Park (in Brisbane), then there’s worse things to do. I’ll just watch it and go back to sleep.

“You can call me crazy and maybe I am, but I love it.”

Yup, he's a Tanev all right.