Ice in My Veins (21 page)

Pressure

The NHL Entry Draft, it was being held in June, at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minnesota. My family and Alex were there to support me at the draft. I was nervous. I had dropped down to number nine on the mock draft list. I wondered if I would even get drafted.

I had spent the last several months, being interviewed by various NHL teams. The Atlanta Thrasher had the first pick of the draft. I didn’t get a good vibe off them when I interviewed with them. I could probably forget about being picked first.

The Islanders picked 6th and I left them with a good feeling. I really enjoyed that interview. Colorado was 7th and was also a good interview.

I got along great with everyone in the Boston organization. However, in that interview there was a conflict with Alex already on their team. They had asked me many questions about how Alex and I were prepared to handle several possible situations.

I answered them as honestly as I could. Alex had told me that they had also taken him aside, and talked to him about the same issues. They weren’t picking until 9th.

My dream team to play for of course without a doubt would be the Flyers and they didn’t pick until 24th. Then there was a very big possibility that I wouldn’t get picked at all. It happens all the time at the draft.

I was fidgeting in my seat. Alex grabbed my hand and told me to relax. I couldn’t relax. I was sweating. I was feeling nausiated. I couldn’t focus on any one thing. I was a wreck. I noticed Joe Sim sitting a few rows away from me with his family. I nodded at him. He looked just as nervous as I was. Then my agent came and sat down with us.

“Just letting you know that I have heard some talk and it looks like New Jersey and Vancouver are trying to make some trades to get you as their picks.” Then he got up and walked away before I could remark about it. New Jersey would at least be close to Alex. Vancouver, the West coast - great team, but that would just be my luck.

I looked up at Alex for reassurance. He had been here and done this all before.

“Christine, wherever you go, we will find a way to work it out. Don’t worry about anything.” He soothed me.

I glanced at my father. ”Not another Canadian team. You need to stay in the country this time Chrissy,” he mumbled. “I never get to see you as it is.”

The draft started. Teams 1-4 had made their picks, and I had not been called. It was pick five now, the Minnesota Wild, here where the draft was being held. They picked our goalie Tyler Plouffe. The crowd cheered loudly. I cheered with them. I was happy for Tyler. I waved and gave him the thumbs up as he walked by me.

Then the commissioner stood up and announced a trade between the New York Islanders and the Tampa Bay Lightening. My heart sunk. My interview with Tampa had gone well also. I held my breath and then Tampa announced their pick, Brad Conners, out of the US college program. That was a shock; he was not even listed in the first two rounds of the mock draft. Good for him!

I kept sliding down the draft, as the next few teams picked. We were already at pick 15 with the Buffalo Sabres picking now. After them it would be Calgary. Both picks went by and my name still had not been called. I was really starting to think I would not be picked in the first round.

All the interviews I thought went well, those teams had passed me over, including Boston. Alex comforted me and reminded me we were only half way through the first round.

I had a feeling I would go number 23 to the New Jersey Devils like my agent had suggested I might. However, they did not call my name; they picked a Swedish player from the elite league. I was never going to get picked. I just put my head down between my knees. I had tuned everything out and was just concentrating on my breathing when Alex shook me.

“Philadelphia Chrissy, they just called you!” He exclaimed almost jumping out of his seat beside me.

I looked up at him. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. The Flyers had picked me? I didn’t think the interview went that well. My dream team. I looked towards the stage and there, holding a jersey for me was Toby Chalke. I guess he was the one who actually called my name. I hadn’t realized.

I found my footing and walked up onto the platform. I shook his hand and put on the jersey. On the back it said Matthews. They must have known they were picking me, or they wouldn’t have my name on my jersey. I was elated. It seemed like everything was in slow motion. I placed the baseball cap on my head and stood with the team staff for the pictures, then was escorted towards the interview table.

How was I suppose to do an interview now. I was still in shock. Philadelphia had taken a chance on me. Picked 24th in the first round. I was picked before Joe. I knew that would get under his skin a little.

I was instructed to sit down beside Toby Chalke and the interviewer at the table they had set up. I smiled up at Toby and he smirked. The interview started.

Christine, how does it feel to be picked by your favorite team and to have your hockey hero call out your name?

I can’t describe the feeling Jim. It truly is a dream come true. I am honored to be chosen by such a great organization. And to have Mr. Chalke call my name, I was literally speechless.

Now Toby , why did you decided to go with Christine? She’s a great player, but there was a lot of talk about the fact that she is a girl, and this is still very much a man’s sport.

Jim, Philadelphia is known for taking chances. We’re famous for it. Christine is a fantastic hockey player, with great skill. She has a good head on her shoulder’s, and she plays hockey for all the right reasons. She is humble and gets along with everyone she has ever played with. I have spoken to her coaches, and they had nothing but praise for Christine. She has proven herself through her perseverance. To us, in the Philadelphia Flyers organization; we believe she will be a great fit for our team.

Christine, everyone is well aware of your relationship with Alex Reddrick who plays for the Boston Bruins. Will this have any affect on your game or location?

That is a personal question Jim. Alex and I both understand our careers come first. It’s as simple as that. We have managed before and worked through it, and we can manage now. There will not be any issue on that front. I have my priorities straight. It was also a question that many of the teams asked me in my interviews and I answered them the same way I am answering you now.

Well thank you Toby and Christine and we wish you and your team the best of luck in the upcoming season.

Toby shook my hand and motioned me towards the rest of the press tables. I spent the rest of the evening doing media and press related things. I finally found Alex and my family late in the evening. It was past 10:00 p.m. I was exhausted. I just wanted to go back to the hotel and sleep.

“Well, you got your wish Chrissy,” my father said as we walked back to the hotel. ”For you to play on the same team as your precious bums did.” He chuckled. He still had a hate on for the Flyers. He would have to get over that now that I was a member of the team.

I didn’t even shower when Alex and I got back to our room. I crawled into bed fully clothed. Alex tried to take my pants off for me because I was to tired to bend, but I passed out cold on him. Once he got those off he gave up and just covered me up and crawled into bed with me.

The next morning I was talking to Alex. I figured out that if I didn’t make the Flyer’s team at camp I would be heading back to Toronto to play my season with the Gophers. I was only going to be nineteen, and you had to be twenty to play in the AHL; if you came out of the CHL. It is an agreement between the NHL and the CHL. The agreement applies to junior aged players. This agreement protects CHL teams from losing their star players to AHL teams. The actual age limit for the AHL is eighteen, the twenty year old rule only applies to CHL players. I could be eighteen and play in the NHL though. I needed to make the Flyer’s roster at their camp or I would be heading back to Junior’s.

If I made the team, it would be a five and a half hour drive to Boston to visit Alex, or for him to come visit me. It would still be closer than Toronto. We would work things out. I knew we could manage. We loved each other, but we both understood how important our careers were.

After a short visit to Dryden to visit with my family, Alex and I both flew back to Providence, Rhode Island.

It felt good to be home. In our home. I would miss it; miss the playing house part, while we were apart. I knew I could handle it. I hoped to God that Alex could. We enjoyed the summer together. We trained hard and enjoyed everything that we could do together. We even bought a couple of kayaks and started kayaking on the nice days. We were getting pretty good at it.

I went to Sarabella’s baby shower. Her and Mike were having their first baby. It was going to be a boy. I was so happy for her. I actually had fun picking out the gifts Alex and I bought them. We bought them the car seat they wanted. I also went a little crazy on the outfits I bought for the baby. Of course I had to buy a little mommy gift for Sarabella as well. I bought her some great bath kits from her favorite bath and body store. I added in my favorite bath bombs. Alex sat down beside me as I was wrapping the gifts.

“A baby boy for Mike and Sar,” he smiled. I knew what he was getting at. He had told me that he always wanted a big family. He used to say, “let’s have a dozen, name them after donuts.” It always made me laugh.

No way was I considering children. I had hockey and Alex, that was enough for me. I liked kids, but I liked to be able to hand them back to their parents after I was finished playing with them.

“Not for a long while Alex. I am definitely not ready for that, so don’t even go there with me.” I smacked him.

I was a long way from having children. I wanted to focus on my career, then eventually marriage and kids not until later in life if any. I had told him many times how I felt about that. He knew what he was getting into with me. I told him if he wanted kids, I was sure his friend Megan would be happy to assist him. He laughed.

I was packing for the Flyer’s camp and Alex was getting things arranged to fly up to Boston for his camp. We had made arrangements for the leasing company to pick everything up later that week. We had also made arrangements with the landlord. I would miss this house. I liked it a lot.

I already knew what to expect out of the NHL camp, because I had watched Alex several times at the Boston Bruins camp. I was excited. Alex took me to the airport and kissed me goodbye.

I noticed as I walked through the gate, a reporter had stopped him on his way out. I’m glad it was him and not me. I hated doing press. He loved talking to the press. I knew it was part of the job, but I was never really comfortable with it.

Oh joy, oh joy! I would arrive Friday and first thing Saturday morning was team physicals and testing. Testing and physicals in the NHL were similar to our testing and training camp only much more intense.

We would start our preseason on Sunday. I knew I was playing at least seven preseason games with the Flyer’s. After that they would have to give me a contract or send me back to Toronto for the season. The first game I suited up, but didn’t see the ice. I was disappointed, but I knew I had to bide my time. I would get my chance. I did well in the preseason. The coaching staff was unsure about me staying on the Flyer’s team this season. They wanted me to develop a little more.

I liked Philadelphia immensely. It was a working class kind of city. The people here were awesome. Down to earth, hard working people and they loved their hockey. What I loved most is that they still remembered and honored the Broad Street Bullies. I thought I was the only person of my generation to know who they were. Kids here as young as seven knew who they were. My father would hate it in Philadelphia. That thought made me laugh.

The coaching staff of the Flyer’s took two extra days to debate, before they called me into their office. They were going to keep me in Philadelphia. Since I was eighteen, I could play in the NHL. I was ecstatic. My dream of playing in the NHL had officially come true. I would now have to do my best to be a role model to all young girls in the sport. Hold my head high and play with all my heart. I knew it wasn’t going to be easy. I would have my work cut out for me. Juniors would be a walk in the park compared to the NHL.

I called Ben Killerman, who had already suspected that I might be staying up in Philly. He had made sure to pick his team during camp accordingly. He always had so much faith in me. Him working his camp around it didn’t surprise me at all. I called Alex and then my parents.

My father said he would never cheer for the Philadelphia Flyers, but he would cheer for me. The stubborn old fool. I loved him!

It would be interesting going up against Boston. Philly and Boston being such rivals. Alex was playing for the enemy. The thought amused me. By no means would Alex take it easy on me either. He wasn’t afraid to check me into the boards, and I knew it. In the preseason games, Philly had not played me on the ice when Alex was out there. However, I suspected that would change quickly.

When I told my father what Philly had signed me for, I could hear the phone drop on his end, $875,000.00 annually for the next three years with room to negotiate after each season.

I played with Philly over the following three years. Surprisingly, the team, the organization and the fans were all very accepting of me being on the team. I figured I would have some issues because I was a woman. No one seemed to care. They loved the fact that I played hard and did my part.