Two former rival women’s hockey captains who found love after competing against each other have welcomed their first child.
Canadian Caroline Ouellette and American Julie Chu welcomed their daughter Liv on November 5.
The pair now play together on Les Canadiennes in Montreal but used to go head-to-head on the US and Canadian national women’s teams.
Oullette, 35, carried Liv and gave birth earlier this month. The pair announced her arrival in joint Instagram posts this week.
Julie Chu and Caroline Ouellette welcomed their daughter Liv on November 5
‘I feel truly blessed to experience this incredible adventure with my love and best friend Julie.
‘I did not realise it was possible to love this much until I met this little bundle of joy!’ Oullette, 38, said in hers.
She said it was a ‘happy’ pregnancy during which time she won the Clarkson Cup along with her teammates.
‘Thanks to our families and friends for your support and for being part of this new journey. Cheers to the sleepless nights to come!’ she said.
Chu, 35, echoed her comments in her own post.
Liv was born on November 5 weighing 7lbs and 3 oz. She is the couple’s first child together
Oullette and Chu are pictured in 2002 during the final of the women’s hockey at the Saly Lake City Winter Olympics
Chu (left in 2013) was the captain of the US women’s team from 2011 to 2013. Oullette (right in 2014) captained Canada in 2014
It is not known when the couple began dating. They are engaged but are not yet thought to be married
The first hint that the pair were expecting a baby came in October when Oullette shared this photograph of her bump
‘We have already been blessed with so many things in our life: Amazing friends and family, Love, Representing our countries, and doing things we are passionate about each day.
‘We couldn’t have felt luckier, until we were blessed with the most incredible gift so far,’ she said.
Chu was the captain of the US women’s hockey team between 2011 and 2013.
Oullette was the Canadian team’s captain in 2014.
The pair kept her pregnancy under wraps until earlier this year when she shared a photograph of herself on Instagram showing off a baby bump.
The couple have since shared several photographs of their daughter who they describe as ‘the greatest gift’