Figure skating darling falls for big, tough hockey player

The premise sounds like a pitch for a Harlequin romance novel. It seems too perfect to be true, the sweethearts of the rink, with cold jobs and warm hearts, melting the ice with their passion. But for Kristi Yamaguchi and her new husband, NHL veteran Bret Hedican, there was nothing cheesy or cliched about their romance. At first, there wasn't even much passion.

"(She and Hedican) first met at the 1992 Olympics, when we were both on the U.S. team," Yamaguchi said in an interview from a Stars on Ice tour stop in Raligh-Durham, NC. "Nothing really happened then, but a few years later, when I was invited to skate at the opening of GM Place (the arena in Vancouver), he was playing for the Canucks, and things took off from there."

Hedican, who towers over his petite bride, had more in common with Yamaguchi than just being able to skate backwards. The two shared a common experience of growing up dedicated to a sport, in families that shuttled their future pro athletes to countless tournaments and competitions. As adults, the duo also could relate to the unique pressures of constantly being on the road.

"It's a bizarre life," the 30-year-old admitted, referring to the challenge of synchronizing her 61-city tour schedule with her husband's dozens of road trips. "Whenever I have a day or two off, I fly to wherever he's playing."

Considering Hedican could be anywhere in North America -- Calgary, San Jose, Columbus -- and so could Yamaguchi, that's a lotta travel.

A Carolina Hurricane since December, Hedican will become a free agent this summer. His wife can't wait.

"When that happens, we can finally figure out where we're going to live."

Married since July 2000, the couple hopes to settle down and raise a family. For Yamaguchi, this means taking a hiatus from Stars on Ice after the 2002 season wraps up in April. After 10 years with the tour, it won't be easy.

"Some of my best friends in the world are (with Stars). It will be hard not to see them after being together so much for so long," she said. "I'll miss the thrill of skating in front of a crowd that wants to be entertained."

One of Yamaguchi's former co-Stars, Ekaterina Gordeeva, provided a role model in combining the skating life with motherhood. Gordeeva, with late husband Sergei Grinkov, brought daughter, Daria, along on tour; then, as a widow and single mother, Gordeeva relied more on her parents to care for Daria. Yamaguchi hopes she also can balance baby with lutzes and loops.

"We have a lot of family that would be willing to help out (with childcare), so I hope I'll be (able to skate professionally) a little bit," she said, adding with a chuckle, "Our parents both really want to become grandparents!"

For now, Yamaguchi hopes to make what could be her final Stars run a memorable experience, even without friend and mentor Scott Hamilton's presence on the ice.

"It's a bummer," she said. "We definitely miss Scott. He's the heart and soul of the tour."

Speaking of heart and soul, the skater is infusing some of her own into two causes that have captured her interest. Through her "Always Dream Foundation," Yamaguchi has worked to provide dreams-come-true for sick children.

"I love working with kids," she said. "The foundation work has opened my eyes to the need out there."

Also active in charity work to benefit breast cancer, the girl with the sky-high Q rating believes in giving back.