Aspiring

Surviving Rookie (Training) Camp

Percival Kane and Jeremy Sagan met one another, shaking hands. They'd both been invited to the training camp and this was their first time meeting one another on the same team. Sure they knew of each other and had played against each other in the minors, but the team was planning on keeping them together, like Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews.

Percy was shier, while Jeremy was more outgoing, but they were pretty similar and it was the start of a beautiful friendship.

They both entered the locker room and headed to their stalls, which were set up for them. They were plotted beside one another and next to the Captain, Jonathan Getzlaf and also Tyler Marchand. Nikita Nichushkin and the team pest, a man named "Crow" (a name suitable for the chirper) sat next to Tyler. The locker room was set up similar in design and structure to the Chicago Blackhawks' current (2014) room.

The goalie, "Scooby" actually sat alone in his own personally "goalie" stall area, beside the large whiteboard and TV in the place. The team symbol was etched into the center of the room, under a chandelier style lighting unit.

Jeremy and Percy both put on their equipment and practice jerseys and headed out to the rink. The rest of the team and prospects were already out there, warming up and going through drills. A few of them were nervous, while a few seemed to "have it."

Nikita Nichushkin skated over to the bench and tipped his helmet back on his head. He snatched his water bottle and took a quick drink, before "Crow" came over. He cross-checked Nikita, laughing.

"What are you doing, Nicky? You haven't gotten a puck past Scooby today! What's-a-matter Russian?"

"Crow, shut up. You no make goal today too," Nikita retorted, the best he could in his chopping second year of English.

Nikita was from Chelyabinsk, Russia and he had been drafted seventh overall in the first round by Boston last season. He was still learning English, but he had a stellar first year nonetheless with the club.

Percy and Jeremy hit the ice together.

"Oh look the kids!" Crow exclaimed, cross-checking his teammate one last time. He skated over to where they were.

Nikita muttered to himself, as he took one last sip from his bottle and then skated off, back into the frenzy of activity on the ice. "Боже мой. (Oh my God.)"

Jeremy grabbed a puck and began passing it back and forth with Percy in a warm-up. They didn't notice Crow come up behind them. He grabbed Percy and began to dance around the rink with him.

"Percy, right? One of the kids?"

"Oh...hey! Jonny told me about you."

Jeremy skated after Crow and separated them. "Leave Percy alone!"

"So, you're sticking up for him?" Crow asked.

"He's like my brother! I have three sisters, but never-the-matter, Percy's my guy and I have his back!"

Crow let go of Percy's jersey and backed away. "This isn't the last of the might Crow. I've got my eye on you, kids!" He skated off and began to chirp one of the defenseman, who rolled his eyes.

"Crow just doesn't shut his mouth does he?" Jeremy thought out loud.

"That's true, Segs," a wise, older voice exclaimed behind them. They both spun on their skates to see Jonathan, the Captain skid up to them. He was smirking, even if it was not as cheesy as Jeremy's. "Crow's what we call our "Team Chirper" or the "Pest". But he's really a great guy and you'll find that you'd much rather have him on your team, than go against him."

"That's true. I can already envision not liking him though," Percy said, flattening his jersey out from where Crow had grabbed him.

Jonathan chuckled heartily.

"Jonny!" someone called. A blue-eyed man skated over, skidded to a halt, spraying ice and removed his helmet to shake out his luscious wavy blond hair. It made Percy kind of jealous. He had blond hair, but it was curly and messy - not at all hollywood-like like this guy's.

"Speak to me Marchy, what's going on?" the Captain turned and faced his friend.

"Nikita's drenched himself in water," the blond man reported, pointing a thumb behind him toward the bench, where Nikita Nichushkin had his head dropped and his hair dripping with liquid.

"Poor Nikita...Crow!" Jonathan growled. "That pest. I'll talk to him. He should know better than to pull that shit right now. There's a time and place, and now's not the time."

"I can handle him, Jonny. You should stick with the kids anyhow!" Tyler Marchand stated with a wink to Percy and Jeremy. He skated off, heading toward where the pest was playfully chirping and cross-checking the defender. "CROW!!"

Jonathan shook his head. "He's normally much better behaved and more professional. I'm sorry. It must be the thrill of training camp."

Percy and Jeremy shrugged and shared a look with one another.

"Alright, let's get the training camp underway, so Crow can finally shut up and shake off the offseason rust in him. And I'll handle Nikita. Poor Russian."

He left them standing there. They resumed their passing drill to inish warming up, as the great young Captain made it over to the bench and talked to Nikita, who quickly "turned his frown upside down." Tyler talked to Crow and got him to calm down. And then everyone gathered together at center ice for a pep talk, instructions and words from the coach.

Before they knew it, Percy and Jeremy were showcasing their skills, deking their own future teammates and having fun. They were impressing everyone, even Crow and then they were put on Jonathan's line. And the trio showed immediate chemistry with one another. Julien Kucherov was deeply impressed.

And with that, Percival Kane and Jeremy Sagan survived Rookie Camp.

Now it was time to perform in Pre-Season and impress the NHL.