Dylan Larkin stayed close to his Michigan roots: The family story behind the Detroit Red Wings captain and his journey from local hockey to NHL stardom | NHL News
Dylan Larkin’s Detroit Red Wings roots run deep before he ever laced ’em up in the NHL. Growing up in Waterford, he was a Red Wings fan who regularly attended games as a child. He played in local programs before moving up to the U.S. National Team Development Program and college hockey at the University of Michigan.That path eventually led Larkin to Detroit, which selected him 15th overall in the 2014 NHL Draft. What started as a childhood relationship with the franchise turned into a professional career, with Larkin eventually captaining the team he watched growing up.
Dylan Larkin’s Michigan roots shaped Detroit Red Wings journey
Larkin’s parents, Kevin and Denise, raised him in Waterford and encouraged him and his older brother Colin to play sports. The family also frequently attended Detroit Red Wings games, giving him an early connection to the NHL organization that would be his professional home.He also did most of his development as a youth hockey player in the area. Larkin played for programs including the Lakeland Hawks, Honeybaked and Belle Tire before moving to a higher-level development environment.One of the more memorable connections to the Red Wings came during the team’s Stanley Cup championship celebration in 2002. Larkin was just a kid when he attended the parade down Woodward Avenue, part of his early connection with the franchise.
Dylan Larkin’s Michigan roots and hockey journey
Larkin continued his development in the U.S. National Team Development Program in Ann Arbor. The program was a huge step toward elite hockey before he went to the University of Michigan.Larkin, one of the bright young stars in college hockey in his freshman year with the Wolverines, was selected as the Big Ten Freshman of the Year.Detroit’s 2014 selection of him came full circle for his journey. Larkin went from a kid watching the Red Wings to wearing the franchise’s jersey in the NHL. His progress in the organization eventually led to the captaincy.
Dylan Larkin’s family built a lasting sports legacy
The Larkin family’s sporting background began with soccer, not hockey. Kevin Larkin grew up in Scarborough, Ontario after his family emigrated from Dublin, Ireland. Kevin, his brother Paul and his brother Jimmy were all good soccer players and played at U.S. colleges.Kevin attended the University of Southern Indiana, where he met Denise. His brother Jimmy became a professional goalkeeper and played internationally for Canada.Dylan and Colin were shaped by that sporting environment from an early age. Both brothers played soccer and hockey, but the family decided to focus on hockey because of the demands and costs of playing two sports.Later, Colin played NCAA Division III hockey at UMass Boston before turning pro with opportunities in the American Hockey League and ECHL.
Dylan Larkin’s family life beyond Detroit Red Wings
Larkin’s story has changed off the ice, too. He married Kenzy Wolfe in August 2023 at Shepherd’s Hollow Golf Club in Clarkston, Michigan, near the community where he was raised.The couple later lost a child before welcoming their daughter, Lennyn Marie Larkin, in May 2025.So his personal journey has stayed tightly linked to the place his hockey career started. Larkin’s career has always been connected to his hometown, from his childhood days watching Red Wings games to playing for Detroit in the NHL.
