Duncan Keith, 29, scored a game-tying goal in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs on Sunday. On Monday his wife went into labor. Monday night, Keith was on a plane back to Chicago to welcome a baby boy.
The Hawks' top defenseman, and wife Kelly Ray, welcomed Colton Duncan Keith into the world at 11:15 a.m. Tuesday. He weighed in at 7 pounds, 7 ounces and was 21 inches long.
Despite possibly missing their top defender for a critical Game 4, no one from the Blackhawks minded that he left.
"Family comes first," head coach Joel Quenneville said Tuesday of the former Norris Trophy winner.
Keith apparently had his travel plans all set in case the baby came during the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. He had a charter flight all lined up so he could get to St. Paul, Minn. by 6 p.m., well ahead of the the 8:30 p.m. puck drop at Xcel Energy Center.
"Oh I didn't know that!" Team Captain Jonathan Toews said. "That's good news for us too then. Nice for him to get that off his mind for the day. I'm sure he'll be playing pretty loose tonight."
Rookie Brandon Saad was all smiles. As a 20-year-old said, he's not yet used to his friends, let alone teammates, having babies.
"It's exciting. Its pretty crazy thinking how young I am seeing someone have kids, but it's an exciting moment for him," he said.
