Hockey and Blessings(Tyler Kennedy)Chapter 5

My due date was during the Olympic break and Sid decided to stay in Pittsburgh instead of going home to visit his family. I yelled at him but his stubbornness won the fight. He had moved enough of his stuff into my place so that he could be comfortable.

About a week before I was due Army came over, told me to get dressed that we were going out. I could’ve sworn the boys were supposed to have practice that morning, in fact Sid even left to go to practice, or so I thought. Army drove me to Mario and Nathalie’s where I was surprised to see a bunch of familiar cars in the driveway. He helped me out and into the house where I was accepted with hugs from all the guys and their wives. Sid was standing in the corner a small smile on his face. He winked and gestured for me to take a seat in the middle of the room.

“Ok, does someone want to tell me what’s going on here?” I asked.

“Sid didn’t tell you,” was the response I got from over half the room.

I shook my head and motioned for Sid to come closer. He nervously approached probably thinking that I was going to hit him. When he was in my arms reach I pulled him into a strong but gentle hug.

“Thank you,” I whispered into his ear. He kissed my forehead and sat himself down on the couch next to me. We did all the classic baby shower things from games to cake and finally gifts. I received a swing and highchair from Mario and Nathalie, a car seat and book of baby names from Brooks, and a diaper bag full of bottles, diapers, wipes, and a spa day from Army and his girlfriend Mel. Sidney handed me a picture of a baby’s room.

“Max, Fleury and a few of the other guys all decided to buy you the baby furniture. It was delivered last night while you were at class. They can’t wait to come up and see the new baby penguin.” I made a mental note to call all of them tonight to thank them.

“Ok time for Sid’s gift,” Nathalie said. He pulled a box out of his back pocket and placed it on top of my rounded stomach. I quickly unwrapped it and pulled the mass of tape he used to keep it closed off. When I opened the box I saw a set of car keys. Unable to speak I pulled Sid into a hug silently thanking him. He then handed me another package this one with a much better tape job.

“More?” I asked.

“This one is a little more homemade thanks to my mom and Taylor,” He blushed. “I don’t have a single creative bone in my body.”

It was a scrapbook with all sorts of pictures from the time I had arrived in Pittsburgh until now. It had pictures of the guys during practice, Mario consoling me when I found out about the baby, Sid and I picking up Army at the airport, Brooks, Sid and I going mini-golfing, and my favorite picture of Sid and I just chilling out and watching a movie. Then it included pictures of me at each stage of pregnancy as well as all my ultrasound pictures. At the very end was a premade page empty except for the pictures of my baby. As I looked through it I cried seeing all the memories I had in just a few short months. Sid then handed me an envelope.

“This is it, I promise,” He said. “Now I know you aren’t a fan of Jeff Carter and neither am I but I was talking to him and he handed me this. I wasn’t sure if you wanted it or not but I decided to give it to you anyway. “I opened the envelope and pulled out a picture of Tyler and I goofing off on the ice after the last game of the season. Before I put the picture back inside the envelope Sid stopped me. “Turn it over.” I did and was shocked to see the words written in Jeff’s messy handwriting. ‘Tyler and Stacey, true love.’ By now I was balling and Sid stood up pulling me into him. Well as close as I could get with my stomach in the way. He said our goodbyes and helped me into his car driving back to my apartment. On the way home I fell asleep.

Hockey and Blessings(Tyler Kennedy) Chapter 4

I knew that I should tell Tyler that I was having his baby but I no longer knew how to get in touch with him. Sid asked me who the dad was but I just couldn’t tell him. I knew that he would do everything in his power to track Tyler down and I didn’t want to make Tyler give up his dream. Though I was scared to become a single mom I knew that I was never alone. I had Sid, Brooks, Mario and his wife Nathalie in Pittsburgh and I had Marc-Andre and Army out in Wilkes-Barre. They all made sure that I knew I could ask them for anything.

Sid was there for me more than anyone else and the gesture went both ways. When he was upset about a game he knew he was always welcome at my place where he could get a home-cooked meal and a nice big hug. In return he would rub my back and stomach and pick up any cravings that I may have. He had become my number one speed dial.

In fact one night in the middle of December I decided to tell him everything. I told him about meeting Tyler and how he had protected me. I told him about us becoming best friends and then me sleeping with him before we went our separate ways. I told him why I didn’t want to tell anyone about Tyler being the father because I had no way to contact him. Sid just pulled me to him because I had burst into tears while talking about it. He let me cry and eventually I fell asleep head on his chest.

Over the next few months my stomach grew bigger and bigger. It got to the point that I couldn’t bend over or walk easily. When Colby got called up I had even more people there to take care of me. Colby, Sid, and Brooks took turns staying with me in my apartment so that I wouldn’t be alone, and when they were on a road trip I would stay with Mario and Nathalie and Nat and I would go shopping Sid’s treat. He was literally the best friend a girl could have. I may have been carrying Tyler Kennedy’s baby but I was doing just fine with the help of some amazing friends.

Hockey and Blessings(Tyler Kennedy) Chapter 3

If you’re wondering I ended up back in my hometown of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The penguins had seemed excited with the prospect of having an intern that knew what she was doing, and the University of Pittsburgh gave me a full ride. When I missed my period I figured it was due to the stress of moving, and starting a new school. Once I got into a rhythm I figured I’d be okay. My first week of training camp after the first cut was the most fun I had ever had. I met lots of the guys like Brooks Orpik, Colby Armstrong, Marc-Andre Fleury, the number one draft pick Sidney Crosby, and Mario Lemieux. Everyone was so nice that I was upset when everyone but Brooks, Sid and Mario were sent down to Wilkes-Barre. Mario treated me like a daughter and was concerned when I was constantly throwing up. He sent me to the doctor’s and threatened that if I didn’t go he would make Brooks and Sid take me. When I got the results of all the tests the doctor ran I was sitting on the bench watching practice. I answered my phone and nearly fell over in shock. I stuttered out the results and the boys left practice early to comfort me. Brooks went to get me ice-cream, Sid for a good movie and tissues and Mario took me back to his place and set me up in Sid’s room. I just couldn’t believe that I was pregnant.

Hockey and Blessings(Tyler Kennedy) Chapter 2

At home and on road trips we were inseparable. He was the only guy coach had we room with and when we did we had a ton of fun. Occasionally he helped me with me with my homework since he had graduated the year before. The whole team thought we were dating but we were just best friends. We did everything best friends do. We bought each other actual Christmas gifts instead of gag gifts like the rest of the team. While the team still tried to hit on me, no one dared try to talk me in the locker room. Ty had marked that territory as untouchable. We spent weekends and days off at the movies or the mall, hanging out like normal teenagers. As the playoffs approached Ty became more focused because of the NHL scouts at every game. With this distraction we hung out less and less. I can’t say I really noticed considering I was worried sick waiting for my college letters to return. I had applied to schools all over the country hoping to catch the interest of an NHL team and possibly a better internship. We talked briefly on road trips but it wasn’t the same and everyone noticed.

With the end of the season and the knowledge that we’d never see each other again we went back to my place to pack my stuff and say our goodbyes. That day it seemed like things were normal again. I was putting my clothes in boxes when he hit me from behind with a pillow. As I ducked his throws I tried to sneak closer in order to tickle him. When I succeeded I laughed. He grabbed me and we fell on the bed tickling each other. When we were both exhausted we realized the position we were in. He had me pinned under him and my arms at my head. He leaned down and kissed me. I pulled him closer and things progressed further than I should have ever let them. When I woke up the next morning he was gone, no note, no nothing. It was both the best and worst goodbye I had ever gotten.

Hockey and Blessings(Tyler Kennedy) Chapter 1

The next day I grabbed my purse and a water bottle and left for the rink. I had a brief meeting with the coaches before heading to the benches with the notepad of stats and my laptop. I sat and finished the stat work before checking my email for my assignments. I began the math work, and then the history before faxing them in from the rink’s main office. When I arrived back at the benches the team was warming up and goofing off. Coach Craig called me over for the official introductions and right before I got there I slipped. I braced myself for the fall, but it never came. Instead I was wrapped in the arms of a short but strong guy. He helped my back to my feet and smiled. I finally made my way to Coach’s side and he introduced me to all the boys. I had met most of them at the airport but I quickly discovered my hero wasn’t one of them. His name…Tyler Kennedy. I was escorted back to the away bench where I sat and watched the rest of practice. Kennedy was not the most talented but you could tell just by looking at him that he had heart.

As I learned over the next few weeks he was a sweetheart. I didn’t spend much time with the team, as I was bogged down with work for coach and school. When I was with them I was constantly hit on. Another reason I kind’ve stayed away from the team. One day however the boys took it too far apparently. It was after a home game and I was in the office updating stats when I heard a commotion outside the door. I went out to find Tyler and Jeff Carter, one of the other boys engaged in an argument.


“Woah, what’s going on,” I said. I tried to step in between them but an approaching Coach held me back.

“Let them fight this one out.” I nodded then turned back trying to figure out the source of the argument. I was only catching a few words and became very confused when I saw Tyler shove Jeff. He didn’t seem like the type to fight…especially not one of his own teammates. Whatever happened had him really fired up. When Tyler threw a punch I became slightly frightened. After another minute coach finally intervened pulling Jeff away from Tyler. “You know you deserved that.” He stated walking Jeff to the trainer.

I looked to Tyler, one to try and figure out why the fight had occurred and, two to see how bad the damage was. He had a split lip, and was certainly going to have a black eye tomorrow. I reached behind me and grabbed the bottle of water that had been in the freezer all day. I walked towards him placing the bottle on his now swelling lip. He nodded thanking me and I whispered welcome.

“So…what was that all about?” I asked. He looked at me in disbelief, eyebrows raised.

“You know how they hit on you?” He wondered.

‘Yeah…” I contemplated where he was going with this.

‘Well it’s 10x worse when you’re not around. No one should ever be talked about like that,” he muttered. “And Jeff, he’s the worst. I just couldn’t listen to it anymore.”

I hugged him whispering thank you’s in his ear.

“I mean it,” I said as I pulled away. Sine Jeff was his ride and I knew that wasn’t going to happen I smiled and said “Come on, let’s get something better than a water bottle on that.” We drove back to my apartment where I got him a bag of ice and we spent the night talking. I had become best friends with the only guy to not only to save me from falling on my butt, but to defend my honor too.

Hockey and Blessings(Tyler Kennedy)Prologue

Some say high school is the time that you can’t wait to be over. Others say that it’s an adventure. Now normally I’d agree with the first statement but this year…this year will be better than I could ever dream of. You see I wasn’t attending my senior year like normal. No, I was headed to another country. I was headed from a small town in southwestern Ohio of the United States to the even smaller town of Sault Ste. Marie in Ontario, Canada. Wonder why? I had gotten an internship as a medical assistant with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds.

As I arrived at the airport I was actually surprised to see a group of teenage boys waiting for me. I had been expecting one of the assistant coaches or even another member of the staff not half the team. Well I guess it’s not every day that you get a female intern form the states. Overall the group looked to be nice but I could tell there were a few that would get on my nerves. Readjusting my bag on my shoulder I smiled and walked toward the group. After introductions were made we left the airport and headed toward the apartment the team provided for me.