Ice in My Veins (22 page)

It was in the second year I was with them, that we won the Stanley Cup. It was the first time the Philadelphia Flyers had won the Stanley Cup since 1975. The city shut down for the day. There was pandemonium in the streets. It was the greatest feeling in the world. To drink from that cup, along with my teammates. Amazing! Of course I rubbed it into Alex that I had won a cup and he hadn’t. Alex was great about it. I am sure a less confident man would have had issues with a girlfriend who was playing hockey in the National Hockey League.

My family was at the Stanley Cup Final. My father had never been so proud. The Peats had also made it down for that game. I had remained in contact with them on a regular basis.

Alex and I had managed to maintain a sort of healthy relationship over the years, but the distance was starting to take its toll on us. It was frustrating traveling back and forth. We were both lonely without each other. Something had to change and change soon. Neither of us of course were willing to give up our careers. We would have to find a way to work around them.

We wanted to get married the coming summer. We had our agents working behind the scenes to find a team that would take a chance and trade for us both. Alex agreed to take less money on the deal. He was presently making $3,550,000.00. I had renegotiated my contract with the Flyers and was making just slightly under that amount. We could handle taking a cut to get a sweet offer from a team who wanted us both.

Vancouver came back with an Offer for us. I had remembered that back at the draft, Vancouver had tried to trade up to get me. Now they would take us both. I was so happy. I was offered $1,625,000.00, and Alex would have to agree to $2,500,000.00. We accepted the offer right away. Vancouver was a great city with a solid team and great fan base.

The fans in Vancouver were welcoming. They truly seemed to like the idea of having a couple on the team. The organization, and the city made us feel so welcomed. It was beyond what we could have hoped for.

One fan told me a few months after I had been with Vancouver that seeing us together on the team helped her and her husband to try harder to understand each other.

Alex and I worked many charity events together. We understood that putting on an NHL jersey meant you had to give back to the fans and the community who supported you. Being an NHL player came with obligations. We loved doing it.

The city treated us like part of their family. I loved living in Vancouver. It is a beautiful city. The prettiest city I had ever seen. It had a little bit of everything. From farm land, ocean, to majestic mountains. It was fairly warm in the winter as well, however; the rain took some getting used to.

We had a beautiful summer wedding up in Whistler, British Columbia. It was a nice ceremony with our friends, family and teammates. I wasn’t one of those girls who used to dream about their wedding. I truly never thought I would ever get married.

Our wedding took place at the Raven’s Nest on top of Creekside Gondola. It was only a ten minute gondola ride to get there. The venue was very private with a spectacular view. I wore a beautiful wedding gown from Maggie Sottero. It was a one-piece, strapless, full A-line gown with corset closure. It had a satin bodice with embellished chantilly lace motifs, and a contrast band accentuating my natural waistline. Sparkling chantilly lace also surrounded the hem of the fully gathered tulle skirt creating exquisite scalloped edging.

Our wedding photographer took pictures of us and the wedding party all over the mountain, including in the gondola. They turned out magnificent. It really was the perfect summer wedding. The mountains were covered in snow; yet it was exceptionally warm. The best of my two favorite seasons, summer and winter.

I never imagined that I would actually get married so young if I got married at all. It’s funny how life surprises you. You just never know where the heart will lead you.

Cathy and Harry flew up for our wedding also. My gift to them for how kind they had been to me, I paid for their flight and hotel. I was so happy to see them. They had visited me a few times when I was in Philadelphia. I considered them part of my family.

We took our honeymoon in Aruba, for a week, because I loved the island so much. Then headed right back to work. I had a great season with the Vancouver Canucks. One of the best I had ever played.

The playoffs started off well for me also, but then half way through the playoffs - I started to feel really sick and tired all the time. I had the team doctor look at me.

When he called me to give me the results, everything went foggy, I had fainted. Would this be the end for me?

Your Life Can Change in an Instant

I didn’t know what I was going to do. I begged the doctor to keep it to himself, and not tell the team owners for as long as he could. I knew full well that wouldn’t be long. I needed time to process the situation. I needed time to sit down with Alex. He agreed, but told the coach I was going to be too sick to play the rest of the playoffs.

What was I going to do. This would change everything. How would the team feel about it? How would the fans feel about it? The instant I was told by the doctor, I already knew in my heart what my decision was going to be. I just didn’t know how anyone else would feel about it.

After the game I sat down with Alex in our living room. I scanned our small apartment. He watched me curiously.

“I think we need to move. Buy a bigger place. This place is to small.” I giggled.

He looked at me strangely. “What’s going on Chris?”

He would never have guessed. I would have never guessed, because we had always been so careful.

“Alex, you’re going to be a daddy!” I blurted out.

Tears filled my eyes I was so happy. He started crying as well. He wanted this for a while now. He jumped off the couch and spun me around. Then it hit him.

“Hockey?” He exclaimed. “What did the team say?”

“I haven’t spoken to them yet. The doctor said he’d give me two days to figure things out. There was no doubt in my mind as soon as he told me I was pregnant, that I would definitely be keeping my baby. I just needed the two days to enjoy the moment.” I explained to him.

“What’s your plan, what’s our plan?” He corrected himself.

“I’m hoping that the team won’t have to much of a problem coming to some kind of deal regarding me having a child. Hopefully, shortly after I have it, I can play again. I was going to work with the doctor and a trainer to keep fit while I’m carrying. I don’t know how they will feel about the issue. If they don’t agree, I suppose I will have no choice. It just might be the end of hockey for me.” I said sadly.

“You’re only twenty-three Christine. You have so many years of good hockey left in you, and they know that. I think they would be willing to come to some sort of compromise.” Alex was sure they would.

I wished I could have his faith. I didn’t. I knew full well this would also bring up the other issue of why women should not play in the NHL.

I called my agent and we set up a meeting with the Vancouver Canucks management and owners.

I was nervous when I walked into the team office. I turned to Alex. He also had to be part of this meeting. It affected him as well. I never believed anything could mean more to me than hockey ever could. Now I had two things that meant more. Alex and my unborn baby.

The doctor had let it out to the staff that indeed I was pregnant. My agent had informed me of that before the meeting. The doctor would also be joining us in this meeting. He was taking my side. He was willing to work with me to make sure I would be ready to play within two months of having the baby; provided everything went well throughout the pregnancy and birth. He said he would also ensure them that I was young and this should not, in any way affect my ability to play hockey after the baby was born.

Once we were seated in the room, we were greeted with much congratulations from everyone there. The meeting lasted over three hours. They felt they could work this situation in the public and it might benefit their team with public relations. They were fine with the situation. Of course there were a few financial conditions and conditions upon my return after the baby came. Nothing that would hurt us over the next few years. We finally came to an agreement.

Alex and I left the meeting happy. Tomorrow we would have to attend a team press conference and make the announcement with the General Manager of the team. We both couldn’t wait to tell our parents the great news.

After we told our parents they were all thrilled. My father said he hoped it was a girl that wanted to play hockey, so I would understand what he felt dealing with me. I laughed.

The press conference went well. The media jumped on the story immediately. It was all over the news. The Vancouver Canucks were supportive of us starting a family and doing everything they could to help with the transition. They said everyone knew the NHL was venturing into a new era of hockey. More women seemed to be playing the sport, and teams had to change with the times. They were proud to be the leaders in this new change. The fans liked the idea. Vancouver suddenly got a whole new accumulation of women supporters. They were right, it did help them out.

I was nervous about my first ultra sound appointment. Alex would be able to come with me and I was happy about that. I was laying on the table looking over at the monitor trying to figure out what I was seeing. It seemed like weird smudges. I could see many things, but really couldn’t tell what they were. The doctor smiled up at me.

“Do you see that right there? And hear that? Two heart beats.” He announced. “Twins!”

TWINS! That was the last thing I was expecting to hear. Alex looked like he was about to burst out of his skin with excitement.

All that was running though my head was Holy Crap! It would take me twice as long to get ready to play again. Two of everything would be needed. We would have to hire a nanny who could handle twins and our schedule. So many things could go wrong delivering twins, all things we were going to have to buy; and worst of all, I would get humungous. Anything I could possibly worry about passed through my thoughts within seconds. I was happy. I was just scared to death. Twins.

I took it easy during the pregnancy. I sat with the wives and the girlfriends during the games. I did a lot of charity work. Mostly with children’s charities and at the children’s hospital. I still worked out somewhat, but the doctor monitored me very closely during the entire pregnancy. I had only played three years and eight months in the NHL. I wasn’t ready for my career to end. I was missing the game. It was hard to sit up in the stands watching my teammates out there, and not be able to help them as my belly began to balloon.

Fans would approach me and ask to touch my belly. They all gave their good wishes to my babies, or gave me homemade gifts for them. It was very nice of them.

I was due January 16th. I knew that it was common for twins to come early. Mine were no different. New Years Eve at 7:00 p.m. I screamed at Alex, “Hurry get me to the hospital now.” Thankfully, he was not on the road playing.

Much pain, and eighteen hours later, two beautiful baby boys were laying in my arms. Cole Alexander Reddrick and Gage Christian Reddrick.

They were the tiniest beings I had ever seen. And they were mine! I cannot describe the feeling. My family was complete. All my dreams had come true and dreams I didn’t even know I wanted.

I was back on the ice in the fall. I had a great season with Vancouver. Both Alex and myself signed with them for another three seasons.

Four years after the boys were born, Alex got hit hard and busted his knee. He would never again be able to play hockey at the NHL level.

At first he moped around depressed for about a month. It took him a while to process things. He didn’t know what to do with himself. He was really starting to annoy the nanny. She told me that he was hovering over her every move. He was obviously bored.

I sat him down one night and discussed things he might want to do with his life. He suggested coaching. I told him I would support him if that is what he wanted to do.

He and I both knew it was an honor to be able to coach. He thought it would be nice to help develop young players, as Ben had done with us. I had to agree with him. It would be a great way to give back to hockey for what it had given to us.

He took a coaching job coaching Major Junior hockey right there in Vancouver. I continued playing with the Canucks for another two seasons.

I decided to retire from playing when Alex got offered a job with Boston; to coach their AHL team, the Providence Bruins in Rhode Island. The boys were six now, and I wanted to spend more time with them. I also wanted to have more children. This pleased Alex, since he always seemed to want his own little hockey team of children.

We both loved Providence, it was a special place for us. I agreed to the life change without a second thought. I had fulfilled my dreams and even won a Stanley Cup. This choice would be the best choice for my family. There was nothing I would not do for my family.

We have been in Providence since I retired from the NHL. I work in the Providence Bruins Office, handling accounting and public relations. We are very happy with the way our lives turned out.

We have seven children now, four boys and three girls. All of our children except one, play hockey. Our son Cayden prefers baseball to hockey. I make sure to go out of my way to support him with his choice remembering, how hard it was on me when I was younger.

My family and Alex’s family are all very close. We make sure to visit often or have them visit us. I realized how important family is over the years. My father and I have a very close relationship now. Hockey managed to finally bridge that gap between us. The Peat’s and Ben Killerman are also regular fixtures in our life and Moose is the Godfather to one of my daughters.

Hockey has been very good to my family and me. It was the greatest gift. It made me grow up, and mature faster then most teenagers. It was worth every minute of it. I owe a lot to hockey for what it has brought me over the years. I built a strong bond with the guys I played with over the years and most of us still try and keep in touch although it is difficult.

I love my family and have been blessed in life. I will be the first to tell anyone to make sure to chase your dreams. They are reachable if you just believe and keep your eye on the “PUCK”.