Chix With Stx: How it All Began

Hi, My Name is Deb."Organization's" new office), holding the phone and
I'm a 39 year old, hockey playing, Mom of two beautifulsaid…"Mum, Some guy named Rick Middleton is
(inside and out) children, Max 14 and Kristal 13.on the phone for you." I instantly had goose bumps,
I started playing hockey at the age of 27, while living infixed my hair (as if he could see me) and calmly said,
Brisbane Australia. I was skating at the local rink, trying"Hi Rick, what can I do for you?"
to lose the baby weight from the birth of my daughter.Well, long story short, he agreed to be a Chix (and
At the end of the public skate, I was approached bywear a wig, lipstick AND fake boobs) and he
the coach of the Queensland Women's Ice Hockeyconvinced Tommy Songin (another former Bruin) to do
Team. He had heard that I was a permanent residentthe same! What a sight to see!!!
(I was married to an Aussie) and I was asked to stickHave I mentioned that Hockey players, young, old,
around, because they were having practice for thefamous or not, male or female, just the whole damn
state team. I laughed, because I had never playedhockey community, are the BEST, most down to
organized hockey. Yes, I was a strong skater fromearth, generous, and real people, on this planet??!! Have
being a figure skater and tomboy growing up, but I hadI mentioned that? Well, they are!
never played on a real team.My next crazy idea was to get ESPN to cover
In a nutshell, I stayed, I skated and I was asked to joinus…I was told by EVERYONE, (except my
the team.friend and former hockey teammate, TC who's
My first EVER real hockey game was a nationalcompany "Central Signal Corp" bought our Chix
Championship. We (Queensland) won!!uniforms) that it would NEVER happen…of
I skated with the Queensland team for 3 years, icecourse, that made me want them to cover us even
and inline, traveled the country, met so many wonderfulmore. I'll cut to the chase…(Again, my cousin
people…it was AWESOME!Michael on my shoulder) I got ESPN's hockey show
1997, we moved back to the States, I found a"Cool Shots" to come up to Boston, cover the nights
women's league in the Boston area and continued toevents and do a really nice piece on us.
skate. While my hockey was going strong, myNow, who would be our honorary coach? Being from
marriage was falling apart…quickly. Hockeythe North Shore and growing up in a hockey loving
was my sanity…family, who else would you want on the bench, but
While I was completely self absorbed with, and cryingUSA's favorite son/captain, gold medal winning, local
over, my failed marriage, my Aunt Kathleen and Unclehero, Mike Eruzione!!
Jimmy, lost their 14 year old son Michael, to Leukemia.I made ONE call, got him directly and without hesitation,
It quickly put life into perspective for me… Ihe said, "Sure, I'd love to!"
stopped my crying and started thinking of ways forI think I mentioned how incredible the hockey
me to lesson my guilt, of not being there for them,community is, right?
while getting off my sorry ass and doing something toMy last crazy notion was to have a famous Boston
make myself feel better about ME, combined withvoice/name/comedian to MC the game…My
being able to do something good for others!first phone call was to WZLX, where Steve Sweeney
On a cold night in October, my friend and teammate,worked as the morning shows host/DJ. I was pushed
Becky and I, went to a Boston Bruin's Alumni game. Asto voicemail, left a message and never expected to
I was watching the B's, it hit me…THIS IS IT!!!hear back. About 15 minutes later, I jumped into the
The women I skate with/against could skate just asshower and my phone rang, it was STEVE and we
well, if not better, than the team the Alumni werewere live on the air…" he asked, "what's that
playing. My wheels started turning… Betweennoise", I said, "Water, I'm in the shower", he said "Oh my
periods, a friend, introduced me to the B's, Gary Doak.God, I'm in the shower with a female hockey player?", I
After the "Hi, nice to meet you", I blurtedlaughed said yes and he agreed to not only MC, but to
out…"Hey, would you guys be willing to playhave the radio station sponsor us, by running
against a women's team?" He said, "Sure, do youcommercials and promoting it daily! Us Bostonian's
have a cause?" I said, "YES I DO!" "The Jimmy Fund, inwould describe Steve as a WICKED awesome and
Memory of my cousin Michael." He said, "Does yourWICKED funny guy.
team have a name?" And the first thing that came toJump forward to the evening of March 26th, The night
mind was, "Chix with Stix". I was told to put the requestthat all of my crazy ideas come together, the first
in writing and email it to the Bruin's Alumni. I did and withever Chix with Stix fundraising hockey game. I'm on
in 2 weeks I received a letter saying that mymy way to the rink, the truck filled with supplies, raffle
"organization" was picked to play against the Alumni.prizes, ME, we were hit with a freak half hour snow
And that's how it all started…storm, I was on RT93 north, it caused crazy traffic, my
Then it hit me… "Organization. Whatdrivers side windshield wiper broke, from the weight of
organization… It's just me…I am thethe snow. I had to stick my head out of my window to
organization!? OH oh, now I have to produce!!"see in front of me (I drive a standard, it wasn't easy!!)
I first started by putting together a team… thebut none of it was reason enough to dampen my night.
"Chix" weren't an official team, I just said they were, toI walked into the rink, covered in snow, started directing
Gary, to get the ball rolling. But, I new it wouldn't be hardmy fellow hockey teammates and family who where
to pull together a group of talented female playerstheir to volunteer, fixed my hair and make up, did an
who would want the opportunity to skate againstinterview with ESPN, got into uniform, was fitted for an
some of the biggest names in hockey!ESPN mobile microphone, stood on the blue line for the
Then "ALL" I had to do was…set a date, bookNational Anthem, between Rick Middleton and Tommy
a rink, design the uniforms, get sponsors, put togetherSongin looking across ice at the Alumni…The
the raffles/prizes, staff the event, sell tickets, begin aChief, Brad Park, Pie McKenzie, The Rat, etc…
media push, all while working my full time job @What a feeling!!
Northwest Airlines and being a full time, NOW single,Most of the night was a blur for me, but a great time
Mom…piece of cake!was had by ALL!
Did I mention that I'm the type of person who LOVESIt all went by so quickly, when we left the building, my
a challenge and thrives when people say, "You'll neverteammates and I were surrounded by little girls, asking
do it!?"US for autographs.
I wanted this to be BIG. I wanted it to be different thanIt was the most incredible night for me, in so very
all of the other Alumni games (other than the obviousmany ways!
of us being a women's team), I wanted my kids to seeJust weeks after that magical night, my Nana, was
that if you have an idea, as long as you believe in itdiagnosed with Breast cancer, (She was in the stands
and work hard at it, it CAN come together. But moston March 26th and told me how very proud she was
of all, this was my chance to prove to myself that Iof what I had done, was doing.) Knowing that she was
could do this, do something big and "pay it forward"! Sonow sick, combined with the fact that for the months
with NO event planning or marketing experience, I wasfollowing the first Chix game, I was constantly being
on a mission to make this night memorable.asked, by both players and fans, to put together
I'd have mini panic attacks…"Yes, my ideasanother game. I decided that I would. But because the
were great, but can I really do this?"Organization is just me (and my children) and it's pretty
My first crazy idea was to have my favorite Bruintime consuming, I figured, Yes, I would do it, but every
(Terry O'Reilly) play for the Chix team, (maybe wear aOTHER year.
wig, have him as OUR muscle). I called the AlumniI also decided to change the beneficiary to the Breast
office, spoke to Mal (for the first of MANY, MANYCancer Research Foundation. And this time, do it in
times) and asked her how to get in touch with Terry.Nana's name (Edna Cronin). Unfortunately, my Nana
She said that she was sorry, but she couldn't give outnever made it to see the game that I was doing in her
his info.honor, she passed away on August 12th, Always the
Oh well…it was a funny idea.sports fan, (while literally on her death bed, floating in
The moment that I knew this event was going to be aand out of a morphine induced high), She waved me
success (and that my cousin Michael was watchingtowards her and whispered, "Deborah, what's the
over me) was...JUST after hanging up with Mal, I pulledscore of the game?" I said, '2-1, Sox are losing, Nomar's
into "Hockey Town", to have my skates sharpened,up and there are 2 outs, doesn't look good." She said
and who do you think was skating??? Yup, Terryback to me, "These damn Sox are going to kill me
O'Reilly!! Terry freaken O'Reilly!!!" I took a deep breath,faster than this cancer!" Those were her last words, to
tried to contain my HUGE smirk and walked onto theme.
bench, (where he'd just sat) I stuck out my hand,When the second event rolled around, because I had
introduced myself and told him of my idea. He laughednow become friends with most of the people involved
and said, "Sure! Here take my number" (I almost pee'd!!)with the Bruin's Alumni organization, I DID get O'Reilly to
I took out my phone and tried to keep my hands fromplay for the Chix, this time. He didn't wear the wig and
shaking while putting his number in. He introduced melipstick. But you know what… that was just fine
to a few of the other guys, Brad Park and Andywith me, I got to skate with him as MY D partner!!
Brickly to name two… and back out on the iceAnother fun night, another great beneficiary.
he went. I walked back to my car, completelyMy life is sometimes surreal, ie: "Mum, Terry's on the
forgetting to sharpen my skates, and called My Mom,phone" (first name basis - hehe) or walking in
Dad, Becky and whoever else would answer theirsomewhere and someone saying to me "Hey, I saw
phone on a Tuesday afternoon! Well, it turned outyou on TV" (ME, this former figure skater, funny girl,
Terry had a prior Commitment with the Legends ofjust a working Mom, now skating to wipe out cancer)
hockey (in CANADA) for that same date…butPutting these events together, has changed my life, my
when I called him, he said, "Deb, I'm REALLY sorry thatchildren's life, too. It's expanded my circle of friends, it's
I won't be there, but, I know someone who will be andmade me realize that even when most people think
I'll have him contact you…do you know Rickthat something IS NOT possible, that's when I feel it IS!
Middleton?" (UM, RICK MIDDLETON? OF COURSE IMy children have been right by my side through it all, on
KNOW RICK MIDDLETON!!!) I said, "Yes." Hethe bench, in the papers, in the locker rooms, they too
continued, "I'll see if he can do it for you."have had an interesting and fun journey…it a
I honestly did not think that Rick would call or that mypretty AWESOME feeling to hand a check to an
crazy idea would actually happen and almost forgotorganization knowing that it may just be my monies
about it, being wrapped up in all my other crazy ideas,raised, that will help find the cure!
that is, until my son came into the kitchen (my