Daddy's Babygirl

My American Thanksgiving break was coming up, and I really wanted to spend it with my cousins. Of course my dad HAD to have a game the next day. We never really celebrated American Thanksgiving but since we didn’t get to have a Canadian Thanksgiving, we were celebrating it now. My grandma and grandpa Staal came, since we didn’t have any family. Uncle Eric, Uncle Jordan and Uncle Jared all had each other down in Carolina. I talked to my grandma and she tried talking to my dad. “Marc, let Kyleigh go to Eric’s. you know she’s in good hands there.” I was listening from the hallway. “no Mom. She’s not going. She’s staying here.” “she needs to be around Parker and Levi. Kids that understand their father who goes away and not kids who are friends with her because of her dad.” He kept shaking his head. “no mom. This is mine and Lindsay’s decision. She’s our daughter and what we say goes.” I started crying. I missed my cousin’s. “I hate you and mommy!” I ran out of the apartment. My dad knew I wouldn’t get very far. He picked me up and carried me to the park, and sat on the bench with me in his lap.

“Babygirl you can’t run off anymore. Mommy and I love you very much, and we have our reasons to what we do.” I rubbed my eyes, sobbing. “but daddy I wanna see Parker.” He held me close. “I know baby, but mommy and I want you here. I have a big game to play and I’d really like it if you were here.” “why can’t I see him daddy?” he sighed. “because honey, Uncle Eric has a roadtrip and I don’t want Auntie Tanya to have to take care of you, Parker and Levi.” I sighed, knowing I wouldn’t get my way. “okay daddy but can I please go for Christmas break?” “maybe. I have to see what your uncles and grandma and grandpa Staal are doing.” I knew I had to be a good girl but I wasn’t like the other girls. I mean my dad was a famous athlete, and I wasn’t exactly girly.

*fast forward 10 years*
I was now 17 years old, and eligible for the NHL draft next year. My dad coached me in hockey up until high school. I worked my ass off to be able to live my dream of following my father’s footsteps. Normally girls weren’t allowed in the NHL and for good reason. I mean, have you seen some of the guys? I made sure that I made it into the NHL under my own merit, and not because my dad or uncle’s had any influence on the guys in charge, or because of my last name. I knew I was going to get heat for even being a girl in the NHL. I missed my parents so much. I had been playing for the Sudbury Wolves with Levi. I was close to my grandparents and I got to play on the same team as my dad and uncle Jared once played on, which was awesome for us.

Parker, had already gotten drafted two years ago. He got drafted by the same team as his dad, the Carolina Hurricanes. We were so thrilled for him. I knew he wanted either Carolina or Pittsburgh so he could prove himself and possibly do really well. I had another year before I could be drafted. I was hoping for the Rangers or the same team as Parker. I knew that if I wasn’t drafted to the Hurricanes, our family would be divided. I hated that feeling. Levi was drafted to the Hurricanes as well. We often joked that the GM was keeping up the Staal brothers tradition. Unfortunately, Levi was still on the Sudbury Wolves. I was excited to get my cousin back on the team but I was sad to see he wasn’t at least on the Checkers.

I loved seeing my grandparents at mostly every home game. My parents tried, but I knew with my father still playing on the Rangers, that it was near to impossible for them to come. I was okay with it. Yes, my dad was there up until now, he had retired after his concussion from a game against New Jersey and came out of retirement recently. Honestly, I had no clue what was going on in his head, but there was no talking dad out of it. All I knew was there was no way in hell that I would quit for a guy. I vowed when my ex back in New York wanted me to quit, that I would never quit for a guy and that I would start a family when I wanted to.

“No Kyleigh. I won’t let you risk your body and health for a game that is so brutal sometimes.” My boyfriend and I had this argument often and I was determined to end it once and for all. “you’re such a hypocrite Jackson! You risk your body and health for the same damn game! Why is it different for me?! We can fight together, be on the same team. It will be fine Jack.” I knew why he was saying those things. “because I know guys like my dad and I.” “yeah we all do babe. But I can handle it. I’ve made it this long and fought so hard for this. I’m not giving it up.”
Jackson Cooke and I had met a long time ago, before Uncle Jordan got traded to Carolina. We just didn’t realize it until later than we should have that we knew each other. That his dad was Matt Cooke and my dad was Marc Staal. I loved Jackson for trying to protect me but I knew I was going to play hockey no matter what. I wasn’t going to be some puck slut or a WAG that did nothing while her husband or boyfriend made all the money. Of course Jack had been traded before the trade deadline last season to the London Knights. I knew Parker and Levi didn’t like me playing pro hockey but they knew better than to say it.

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