Chapter 41

The next morning we headed home. The flight ran smoothly and we arrived back in Pittsburgh on time. I headed home for a couple of hours then went into the office to make sure that everything was up to date before our normal training regime starts back in the morning.

I had what looked like hundreds of emails congratulating me on the news of our engagement. It was hard to believe how quickly news like that gets round everyone, as I sieved through them all I came across an email address that I did not recognise. The email read:

Hi Stranger, how are you? I was looking around the NHL website and found a picture of you with your email address below along with a brief statement about what you have done for the NHL. I could not believe my eyes when I read all about how well you have done for yourself.

The last time I saw you was at Paul’s funeral. I was aware that you had moved away but I did not know that you were living in America let alone that you were working for the NHL, specifically your beloved Pittsburgh Penguins. I remember how proud you were when they won the Stanley Cup just before Paul past away.

Paul would be proud of you.

Anyway, a little update on me (Michael Graham here by the way). Lorna and I never got married, I realised that when Paul died that she was not the one for me, I wanted to have what you and Paul had and it was never going to happen while I was still with her. I have dated a few girls since but nothing serious and at the moment I am currently single.

I have been working for PRI and believe it or not I am now a fully qualified doctor and I specialise in sports injuries. I have applied a position in the NHL as a team doctor and would be based with the Calgary Flames. I cannot wait to hear a reply. I am not holding out any hope but you just never know.

Anyway that is enough about me. Tell me all about you and how you have come to be such a highly thought of person in the NHL.

Gill, once again I am so proud of you and so glad to hear that you are doing well. Maybe if I get the job we can meet up sometime, it would be great to see you again.

Take care,

Michael Graham.

Wow, that was a name I have not heard in a while, he was a very good friend of Paul’s and often watched the hockey with us.

I decided to reply straight away, work could wait a few minutes longer when suddenly I had a thought, I have connections, I could see how his application is doing.

I phoned a friend of mine in recruitment and asked if I could get the name of someone at the Flames that would be able to help me.

“Good afternoon Mr Thompson, my name is Gill, I work for the NHL, more specifically the Pittsburgh Penguins and I was wondering if you would be able to help me.”

“Is that Gill, the future Mrs Crosby?” I strong Texas accent answers me.

“Yes, that is right. I have just heard from a friend of mine back in Scotland who tells me that he has applied for the position of Team Doctor based at your site. I realise that I am asking for confidential information but I just wondered if you are considering his application.”

“Wow, you and Sid the Kid are a match made in heaven, my daughter is very envious of you, she has always had a big crush on Mr Crosby.” He says in reply.

“Yes, I think I have made quite a few girls very jealous, I am a very lucky girl.” I say wishing that he would just answer my question.

“I am not really meant to divulge information but since you are such an important person in the NHL and would likely be working with him at some point I am pleased to say that I was on the phone to young Michael this morning. He is coming over for an interview and to see around the area next week. We have booked flights for him and putting him up in the hotel that the Flames use.”

“Thanks Mr Thompson, I am very grateful to you. I hope you like what you see when you meet him. It has been a pleasure talking to you.”

I decided as I hung up that I wanted to phone Mike rather than email him, I checked the time and it worked out that it is about 1515 am in Scotland just now. I started off by phoning PRI (Perth Royal Infirmary) to see if Mike was working, he was on a scheduled day off but I managed to convince the young girl on the phone to give me a contact number for him.

The call seemed to take a life time to connect when I suddenly hear Mike answer “Hello.”

“Now there is a voice that I will not forget. How are you Michael?” I ask cheekily wanting to see if he would recognise my voice as I had started to pick up a slight American accent.

“Gill, is that you?” I hear after a few seconds silence.

“It certainly is. I got your email and I got your phone number from your work, I hope you don’t mind me phoning you?”

“It is so good to hear from you Gill what a perfect day. First of all I get a call from the NHL asking me to attend an interview in Calgary and now you are on the phone.

“I have been doing my research on you and you are doing so well for yourself. I believe you are the most highly regarded trainer in the NHL and one of the most sought after physiotherapists with players from all over the NHL wanting you to help with injuries. You even did the training for the All Stars Game for the past 2 years – what a treat that must have been.

“I am so sorry I have not stopped talking since you came on the phone.”

“That is ok, I am happy to hear you telling me everything. We don’t need to keep talking about me though but if you are still online you should go onto the Pens website and click on Pens TV and watch the trick shots from yesterday.”

As I sat and listened to Mike tell me all about his offer of an interview and about how he had come about being trained in sports injuries an email came into my account asking me to attend Mikes interview as one of the panellists, it had been timed in for when we were up in Calgary playing next week.

I emailed back and said that I was a friend of Mikes when I was back in Scotland and have recently got back in touch with him so I was not sure if I could be neutral in making the decision of whether he was suitable or not.

I got an email in return saying that was one of the reasons I was invited to come along so that he would not feel intimidated and so that I could explain to him what I do as a physiotherapist and how it had come about that every player in the NHL wants to come to me when hurt. Although I was so to be one of the panellists I would not be eligible to vote.

I agreed to attend the interview as long as its scheduled for out with training hours. I also asked if Mike could attend the game during his visit as he was a big fan of the Calgary Flames.

I did not let on to Mike. I thought it would be a pleasant surprise for him when he entered the conference room.

“Gill, is that you out doing the trick shots? Wow, you look amazing.” He announces.

“Thanks, yes that is me. They convinced me that I should have a go at the trick shots and I also took some shots against Ozzy, I mean Chris Osgood, which I scored 8 out of 10.”

“That is brilliant you must be pretty good at your hockey. I suppose you would need to be to get to where you are now. I hope some lucky guy has snapped you up.”

“Are you telling me that during all your research you have not found out who my boyfriend, sorry I mean fiancé is?” I reply laughing.

“You are engaged, that is great. Let me look to see what I find, hold on.”

“I could just tell you Mike.” I cut in.

“No, No – Oh, found it oh my god you are engaged to Sidney Crosby he proposed to you yesterday. I have just found the press conference and some other pictures of you together. You look so good as a couple, you look really happy Gill. I am so proud of you. I know Paul will be smiling down on you too.” He says excitedly.

“Thanks Mike. It has been nice talking to you but I better get back to work. I will give you phone when you are in Calgary next week as we have a game up there at the same time. Take care and good luck for your interview.”

“Thanks Gill, it has been nice talking to you too, hopefully see you next week”.

I decided that no work was going to be done today so I went round to see Kirsty before going home.