Never Let Go.

‘Kieran’s POV’

34 hours. THIRTY-FOUR FREAKING HOURS including two layovers in foreign countries. That is how long it took for Lauren and I to get from Dallas to Pyeongchang, South Korea. And in case you were wondering, it sucked. A whole bottle of Dramamine couldn’t have made that flight any better, and trust me we tried.

Spending a whole day and then some traveling is basically hell on earth, and I love Lauren to death, she's practically my sister but we could have killed each other after about 19 hours. By the time we landed in South Korea we felt and probably looked like absolute shit, and the time change was horrendous.

The three guys we had traveled across the globe to see were already use to the time change and had gotten over their bouts of jet lag by the time we arrived. So their giddiness and eagerness to begin playing really drove us insane. In the Olympic village there was so much to see and do all the time. Between ceremonies and games of all different sports and countries we were constantly on the go. When Team Canada and Team USA (who Lauren and I were secretly rooting for) weren’t playing or practicing we took that time to spend time with our guys.

Team Canada, who had won Gold back in 2014 with the help of my awesome hubby was poised to make a run at the top step of the podium this year too. After the first 2 rounds they are in the top of the standings and have already beaten rival Russia 4-2. Their next game is against the Finland to move onto the finals against USA. If they make it to the finals I honestly will be happy with either team winning considering I’m American, but I feel and overwhelming obligation to be 100% Canadian for the rest of the tournament.

After beating Finland in a 5 game series, 3-2 the Canadian men have made their way back to the Gold medal game and the tension is very high. Most of the team knows what it feels like to be given a Gold medal and want that feeling again.

Its game day and the three amigos are nervous but Lauren and I as well as the entire nation of Canada has faith in them. Sitting in the stands with a few other Team Canada WAGs and family members we await the first puck drop. Although some of us are technically American we’re all decked out in Canadian gear. I feel a bit like a traitor but there is no one else number I’d want to have on my back but Jamie’s at this point. When the game begins my nerves really kick in and my knee begins to shake, Lauren has begun the same antics, I tell you we are basically twins separated at birth.

As the game goes on the US leads as the 3rd period begins 3-2 and I know the whole country of Canada is waiting for Jamie to strike like he did in 2014. I find myself hoping for that as well or maybe for Tyler to do something crazy. I mean they don’t call him the third period sniper for nothing, right? The clock is ticking down and my heartbeat is increasing, if they are going to do something it needs to happen now.

Just as I’m thinking that Jonathan Toews takes a hard hit into the boards drawing a penalty and a 2 minute power play, just what we needed. “Do something with it!” I mumbled covering my mouth with my hands my eyes never leaving the ice.

Thirty seconds left in the power play, Captain Sidney Crosby brings the puck down the ice passing it to Jamie, Jamie back to Crosby, and Crosby to Matt Duchene. Duchene dekes out a defenseman, backhand, forehand, he shoots top shelf and the goal horn rings. They have tied it up with 4 minutes to go in the third.

After cheering and a little dancing to the snippet of the Canadian goal song we all take another deep breath in as the puck is dropped once more. Lauren squeezes my kneecap Cody is back on the ice after a line change, “Come on baby,” she cheers and my toes go back to tapping. At this point I don’t think I can handle overtime hockey, my heart rate is already through the roof.
Focusing in on the action back on the ice I watch as my best friend brings the puck down, probably chirping his old teammate Patrick Kane as he goes.

Tyler’s skill speaks on its own but right now he’s making me very nervous. A quick pass to Eakin he tries to set up the team for a goal, Cody passes to Taylor Hall another new addition to Team Canada and he brings the puck closer to the net. Duncan Keith sets a screen blocking Jonathan Quick’s view as Hall passes back to Tyler who’s bringing his stick back to fire a shot. In the bat of an eyelash the pucks flying five hole right between Quick’s legs. As the goal horn goes off I know they’ve done it, with under a minute left to play Canada is golden once again.

When the final buzzer rings the group of us all cheer along with the other Canadian fans in the seats surrounding us. There is screaming, clapping, crying, and a lot of “That’s my boys” and “Suck it America” being thrown around, Media and the Arena camera find their way to us snapping pictures and video I’m sure we all look ridiculous in.

As Oh, Canada plays over the loudspeaker Lauren and I mumble along both of not so fluent in French, huge smiles plastered on our faces as we watch the team swaying on the ice. It feels like forever before the medals are handed out and I can feel a few tears rolling down my cheeks as I watch Jamie receive his second gold medal. When the ceremony ends unlike when a team wins the Stanley Cup their families are not allowed on the ice, we are sent to a room downstairs to wait until they have been attacked by the media.

A solid 45 minutes later the team finally immerges from the locker room, all dressed alike in Team Canada warm-ups with shiny gold medals slung around their necks. A beanie catches my eye and I know its Jamie, full force I make my way through the crowd of people “Jamie, Jamie!” He turns just in time as I am leaping at him, skillfully catching me in his arms. “Hi” he laughs as he spins us around. “Hi, I am so proud of you!!” I fiddle with the medal around his neck as his lips crash into mine. “Thank you, sorry I had to beat your team.” I shrug as he sets me back down on the ground, “Let’s just say I’m Irish instead.”

After congratulating Tyler who had more press than anyone to cover I asked Tyler’s mom to take our picture, the original three where it all began. The memories with those two boys ranged from wild and crazy to sweet as could be and I was blessed to have experienced all of them. Tomorrow morning it was back to the States and I was more than ready to sleep in my own bed with my husband, something we were not allowed to do in the Olympic village. Dinner with some of his teammates followed by one last stroll through the village and the 2018 Olympics came to a close. Once again Jamie was golden, not that he had ever stopped shining to me.

Notes

Oh Canada... Yeah, that's all I know I'm American.. :P lol xoxo -Ally

Off to Korea

Honorary Canadian