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No one tells you how difficult it is to take your 20 month old to her first professional hockey game, at least no one told Ilya. Him and Shane have been parents for a few months now and managing taking care of a toddler during hockey season was definitely a task, that being said Ilya wouldn’t trade it for the world. Yuna and David have been happy to watch Phoebe when Shane had home games so Ilya could attend, however his fellow WAGs have been begging him to bring Phoebe to a game so they could all meet her. Finally Ilya and Shane agreed today would be the prime day to bring Phoebe to a game since it was a matinee at home meaning limited travel and being back early enough to put Phoebe to bed on time.
“Ilya, what’s taking so long we’re going to be late” Shane shouts across the house.
Ilya is in Phoebe’s room with her propped on his hip. She’s wearing what might be the smallest Ottawa Centaurs jersey Ilya has ever seen with ‘Hollander’ written across the back of it above the large #24.
“I cannot find earmuffs I bought to protect her hearing!” Ilya shouts back.
“They are in the drawer next to her beanies!” Shane returns and of course that's exactly where they were. Ilya grabs the earmuffs and walks back towards the entry way where Shane is waiting.
“Are you ready to go watch dada play Hockey?” Ilya asks Phoebe in a soft voice.
“I ready!” Phoebe says back excitedly
“Well lets go,” Ilya says tickling Phoebe, earning himself a high pitched giggle. Ilya hands Shane the earmuffs and Shane puts them in the diaper bag. They grab the rest of their things and get Phoebe buckled in her car seat. Ilya knew it was going to be a little stressful taking a toddler to a hockey game, but he was actually really excited to get to show off his and Shane’s daughter to everyone, she was the cutest toddler ever after all, not that he was biased or anything.
“Phoebe, how are you going to cheer at the game?” Shane asks from the driver's seat.
Ilya looks back at Phoebe from the passenger seat, “Do you remember what I taught you? ‘Go Centars!’” Ilya says in that same soft voice.
“Go centours!” Phoebe shouts back.
“Yayyyy” Ilya and Shane respond.
Once they get to the rink Shane gives Ilya a quick kiss, then gives Phoebe a forehead kiss before going to the locker room to get ready for the game. Ilya is in full dad mode at this point carrying Phoebe's diaper bag on his back and Phoebe on his hip.
“Where did dada go?” Phoebe asks in a quiet tone.
“He has to get ready for hockey game with his team,” Ilya tells her.
“But you stay?” She asks.
“Yes I stay the whole time.” Ilya says comforting her.
“Ok papa.” Phoebe turns her body towards Ilya and gives him a hug. “Can I walk?”
“Not right now Phoebe, there are too many people, I don’t want you to get lost.”
“In a minute?" She says giving Ilya her puppy dog eyes.
“Yes, in a minute baby.” He says giving in.
Finally Ilya gets to the room where all the WAGs hang out before the game, and sets Phoebe down before they walk in.
“Ok Pheebs, you want to hold papa’s hand” He asks her.
“Ya!” She reaches her little hand up and grabs Ilya’s finger.
Ilya opens the door and the two of them walk into the room. As soon as the WAGs spot Phoebe all their faces light up.
“Hiii” Phoebe lets go of Ilya's finger and waves.
A sea of ‘Hi’s’ and ‘hellos’ fill the room as the WAGs wave back at Phoebe.
“This must be the Phoebe we’ve heard so much about!” One of the Wives says.
“I’m Phoebe!” She says excitedly. “I came to watch hockey!”
“It’s nice to meet you Phoebe.” The same wife says bending down to Phoebe’s level.
One of the defenseman's wives whom Ilya was particularly close with came up to him.
“How’s dad life treating you?” She asks
“It is good, eventful, but she is a good toddler.” He responds and thinks back to his and Shane’s first night with Phoebe. Ilya had taken care of toddlers before, his niece back when he still went to Russia, she probably had kids of her own by now. Shane on the other hand had less experience with kids, and that first night Shane refused to sleep, he stayed up all night watching Phoebe, terrified something might happen to her if he looked away for even a minute. Ilya knew Phoebe would be ok but he loved how deeply Shane loved and cared for Phoebe. Shane was always meant to be a father, and Ilya knew Shane would be a good one, but he wasn’t sure about himself. He was a bit terrified at the thought of having children, terrified at the thought of being just like his own father; But once he held his daughter in his arms for the first time, her wispy black hair and big brown eyes, he knew he would be the one to break the pattern.
“Was it difficult for her to adjust to living with you guys?” She then says.
Ilya looks down at Phoebe who's still talking to one of the wives. “At first she was very shy, did not want to eat, but after some days she was settled and happy.” Ilya tells her.
“Well I’m happy for you guys, I know you’ve both been talking about kids for a while.” She smiles.
“Yes we are very happy.” He responds and it couldn’t be more true.
The WAGs sit and talk for a little bit until they find their seats to watch the guys come out on the ice. Ilya had Phoebe on his lap with her earmuffs on and she couldn’t be more excited. It dawned on Ilya that right now he was sitting at a hockey game with his daughter on his lap watching his husband play. 10 years ago he would have never imagined himself in this situation, but now he couldn’t imagine his life any other way. Ilya listens to the opposing team being announced then it's Ottawa’s turn.
“And starting at center, your captain, #24, Shane Hollander.” The crowd erupts right as the announcer finishes.
“Phoebe say ‘go daddy!’” Ilya tells her, lifting her up so she's now standing on his thighs. The camera cuts to Ilya and Phoebe for a second giving the whole arena a view of Phoebe cheering for Shane.
“Looks like Hollander has an extra supporter tonight.” One of the announcers quips before the screen returns to the players on the ice. The game starts and Phoebe is loving it. She’s watching intently and cheering along with the crowd, although sometimes for the wrong team.
In the third period Shane takes a particularly hard hit and leaves the ice, but doesn’t go back to the bench instead he leaves with the trainer going to the medical room.
“Where dada go?” Phoebe looks up at Ilya.
“He just got a little bit hurt so he’s going to get checked out” Ilya tells her.
Phoebe's eyes get a little watery, “Is he ok?” She asks in a sad voice.
“Yes, yes he is ok.” Ilya says calmly.
“Are you sure dada is ok?” She asks again.
“Yes Pheebs I promise he is ok, do not cry.” He tells her holding her highly against his chest.
“I want to see dada,” She insists.
“There is not long left of the game, you will see him soon ok?”
Phoebe nods her head in response then focuses back into the game. The Centaurs win 2-1 and both Phoebe and Ilya are very happily cheering.
“We go see dada now please,” Phoebe asks as soon as the players leave the ice.
“Yes we can go see him now.” Ilya grabs the diaper bag and puts the earmuffs back inside, Phoebe did not want to wear them anymore. He carries Phoebe through the crowd and down to the locker room. They wait until Shane finally walks out free from his hockey gear and his hair wet from a shower.
“There’s my #1 fan!” Shane says happily reaching out his arms to grab Phoebe.
“Dada!” She says happily in his arms. “Are you ok?”
“Yep I sure am!” He responds.
“Good.” She says, then wraps her arms around his neck nuzzling her face into his chest.
Ilya looks down at the two fingers on Shane’s left hand that are wrapped together completely straight with medical tape. He then looks back up at Shane.
“Probably just a fracture.” Shane says to Ilya knowingly.
Phoebe looks up at Shane unwrapping her arms. “Dada I cheered so loud I said ‘go centours’” Phoebe shares excitedly.
“Well it seems your cheering led us to a win, we’re gonna have to take you to more games.” Shane tells her. Then another play opens the locker room door and spots the three of them. He turns around and yells back into the locker room.
“Boys! Mini Hollander is here!” He shouts and Ilya can hear loud rustling come from inside the locker room. After a few seconds almost the whole team is outside the locker room taking turns holding and talking to Phoebe and Ilya can tell she is loving all the attention.
One of the rookies looks over at Shane, “Oy Hollander, you can tell she's adopted cause she’s way cuter then either of you.” This gets a laugh out of the rest of the team.
“Okay, Okay play time over, please return the toddler to her dads.” Ilya says in return.
The whole team groans in response before handing Ilya back his daughter.
“Bye Bye” Phoebe says waving to the rest of the team. They all wave back.
Finally they are all able to make it out of the rink and back into the car to head home.
“Did you have fun Phoebe?" Shane asks, now in the passenger seat with Ilya driving.
“Yes I had so much fun” Phoebe said happily, “I want to go to all your games dada.”
“Well we’ll see what we can do.” Ilya responds.
“Dada, Papa, when I'm older I want to play hockey just like you.”
Ilya’s heart melts a little.
“Whatever you want sweetheart.” Shane tells her then smiles over at Ilya.
“Yes, whatever you want.” Ilya agrees.