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”.
Quick Reference
CHL – Canadian Hockey League
OHL – Ontario Hockey League
NHL – National Hockey League
AHL – American Hockey League
ECHL – East Coast Hockey League
MVP – Most Valued Player
FBI – Federal Bureau of Investigation
CIA – Central Intelligence Agency
Broad Street Bullies – one of pro sports’ most polarizing teams. The legendary Philadelphia Flyers Stanley Cup championship squads of the 1970s, athletes, who won back-to-back Stanley Cups in 1974 and 1975 with a bold, aggressive style that sparked criticism and controversy. The names used in this story were not real Broad Street Bullies. The real Bullies were Bobby Clarke and Dave The Hammer Schultz.
Author’s Comments:
The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Although some places, teams, hockey leagues, players, etc. are mentioned by name it was purely to help make the story more realistic.
The NHL, AHL, CHL or their affiliates did not endorse this book. The views are purely those of the author. This book is pure fiction, and was written for entertainment and enjoyment purposes only.
I chose to use the Philadelphia Flyer’s as the base hockey team in this book, because I myself am a huge Flyers and Bobby Clarke fan. I have been since the 1970s. The character of Toby Chalke was modeled after Bobby Clarke. I also chose Boston and Vancouver because I have always liked their organizations.
There have been many women
who have played professional hockey on men’s teams, including the NHL. I suggest doing some research on these very inspirational women. For anybody interested in finding out more about women who play men’s professional hockey; there are several resources such as The Canadian Hockey Association, which contains history on women in hockey back to the late 1800’s.
I hope that this book will inspire people of all ages to chase after their dreams. You are never to young or old to follow your dreams.
About the Author:
Kelli (Kiki) Sullivan was born in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. She has traveled extensively and has lived abroad. She enjoys the outdoors and all sports, her favorite being hockey. She is a history and war buff, and loves to work on genealogy in her spare time. She started working in television when she was only 16 years old; where she was the recipient of several television production awards, and since then held a variety of positions in various fields.
After years of extensive traveling and career changing she decided to start writing for the fun of it. Ice in My Veins was her first novel. “Rocket to the Moon” is a children’s book about using your imagination. She is also a published Poet and won an editor’s choice award for her poem “Caves”.
Kelli Sullivan, Ice in My Veins
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