Jeannots Welcome Baby Boy: "It Was the Longest Flight of My Life"

Tanner Jeannot was planning to skate for the Predators in Vegas last Thursday night. Instead, one phone call less than an hour before puck drop changed everything.
Just a few minutes into warmups at T-Mobile Arena prior to Nashville's final contest of a three-game trip, the rookie winger was summoned off the ice by Predators Director of Team Services and Player Relations Brandon Walker - and for good reason.
Jeannot's wife, Keely, had gone into labor. The couple's first child was on the way - and he had a plane to catch.

"It was the longest flight of my life," Jeannot laughed on Saturday back in Nashville, and his son, Jayce, now the newest member of the family. "Not being able to have service and talk to anybody [was tough], and the whole time just thinking, 'OK, I'm going to be a dad.'"
When the Predators left for Anaheim over one week ago, Jeannot knew there was certainly a chance he could be heading home early if things began to progress back in Nashville. He made it through games against the Ducks and the Kings in California, but on Thursday afternoon, he received a message.
"A little bit before the game there I got a text from my wife that she was feeling a little funny and that she was thinking about going in to get checked," Jeannot said. "So, I said, 'OK, let me know and let Brandon Walker know if something's going on.' He ended up getting a call midway through warmups, pulled me off the ice, he got me a flight right away and got back home around 2 [a.m. CT]. I was with her for most of the labor, and then the next day, a little guy popped out. It's pretty crazy."

While Jeannot was whisked away in a car to the airport, the rest of the Preds then had their own adjustments to make, including forward Matt Luff who now had to play after expecting to be scratched against the Golden Knights.
"A lot of times what we do is earlier in the day - I think [Jeannot] knew [his wife] was having some contractions and things like that - so a lot of times what we try to do is tell the player that he may play and just to say, 'Look, you've got to make sure that you're ready,'" Preds Head Coach John Hynes said of the situation. "It's almost like what you would do with an injury. Sometimes we say we're not sure this guy's going to be able to play and you've got to prepare as if you are. Luffer was ready. He's always ready, that kid."
Jeannot left the rink in a rush without any luggage either - his suitcase was still in his Las Vegas hotel room with the team not scheduled to fly home until the next day. Of course, the Preds took care of that for him as well, and there was a bit of a surprise for Jeannot once his flight touched down in Tennessee.
"Somehow my pilots found out, I guess," Jeannot said. "They didn't say my name, but they asked if someone on the plane's wife was in labor and to ring your flight attendant bell if it's true. So, I did and everyone on the plane started cheering and let me off the plane early."
Jeannot made it to the hospital in plenty of time, and on Friday, the good news spread quickly.
"We missed him [in the game] for sure, but really happy for him," Preds forward Matt Duchene said of Jeannot. "Becoming a dad is so special, and having kids myself, every time somebody has a kid, I'm just over the moon for them. So, it's really great for him and really happy that everything turned out alright. You just pray that when somebody that you love like that goes into a situation that everything turns out well for them and their wife and their kids. So, it's great to see little Jayce be born and really happy for them."
It's a day Jeannot will never forget - for more ways than one - and he'll surely share the story to his son one day of the game that wasn't.
"It was the longest flight of my life," Jeannot said. "I couldn't shut my brain off. There's no way I was sleeping. But it all worked out really well. I'm really happy, and I'm really grateful for how everyone helped out and we got a good little guy here now."

And then, on Sunday evening in Nashville, and as new dads often do, Jeannot delivered. His Gordie Howe Hat Trick - which consists of a goal, an assist and a fight in one game - was completed when the rookie tallied the game-winner with less than two minutes to play in a 5-4 victory over Philadelphia.
Sometimes, the stories just write themselves.
"I don't know; it's hard to explain," Jeannot said of the emotions following the win. "I guess I just was thinking about [my wife and son] more and they were motivation for me. And so I tried to do the same thing coming in. I wanted to do everything I can to help the team win and just had that little bit of extra motivation. And obviously it's a special night."