Aspiring

Tyler Marchand, Assistant Captain

Before the pre-season started, and when all of the Blackhawks, rookies and vets alike finally gathered together after the long offseason break, a meeting was held in the main conference room. Chairs were set up and Jeremy and Percy were sat together with Jonathan. Nikita, Crow, and the others all sat around the room in other seats. Nikita had gotten over his horrible training camp with Crow and the two were joking around and having some fun.

"What are we doing?" Jeremy asked.

"Coach K likes to hold these meetings before the pre-season and season all the time. He feels it is a good pep talk and it refreshes our minds and gets us on track for the new season. You know, mostly to get us focused and remind us of our one goal."

"To win the Cup!" Percy exclaimed. "Obviously."

"Bingo!" Nikita exclaimed in a thick Russian accent.

"So if we know that, why does he hold the meetings?" Jeremy asked.

"Because he's also naming new Alternate Captains. Someone has to backup Jonny!" Crow explained, raising his head up proudly.

"And it no be you, Crow," Nikita chirped. "I bet it gonna be Tyler."

"Why Tyler and not me? I'm plenty old enough!" Crow folded his arms in front of him.

"Because you chirp too much. And also lose your temper," Scooby, the goalie, butted in.

"Yeah. No good enough," Nikita agreed.

"What are you puppies saying—?"

Before anyone could say anymore, Jonathan Getzlaf, Coach K and Teemu Selanne entered the room. Teemu took the podium at the front and began to address all of the Blackhawk players. Jonathan took a seat next to Percy, smiling at him.

"Boys, as you can see there are some new acquisitions made during the offseason. Percival Kane and Jeremy Sagan will be great additions to our team. They shone in the pre-season and throughout the training camp. I'd love to see 'em in action during a real NHL game. Please welcome them to the team. Crow, I'm looking at you." Teemu Selanne looked at the pest, who slunk in his chair. "Anyway, I'm gonna hand the mic to Coach K, who has an important announcement."

Julien Kucherov took Teemu's spot. "I'd like to begin with a saying, 'You don't win once in a while, and do things right once in a while, you do them right all the time. Winning is habit, that's what we're going to do. You do things right all the time and winning is habit.' Keep that in mind. Now, for assistant captains, for now there will be only one for now, Tyler Marchand."

All the Blackhawks clapped for him. Tyler stood up. He bowed and smiled nervously.

"Speech! Speech!" Nikita exclaimed.

"Why do I have to give a speech now? Can't it wait?" Tyler stammered. "I'm not ready."

"Come on Tyler, do the speech!" All the Blackhawks pleaded.

"Yeah, come on Tyler!" Nikita echoed.

"Marchy," Jonathan spoke, "You'd better do a speech for 'em."

Tyler dropped his head. But he snapped it back up. "Fine. I'll do a speech." He faced his Blackhawk teammates and launched into a short, but heart-felt speech on the spot. Crow "awed" at him and whistled at him. But Tyler soon ended with, "Thank you all so much, I know I'm just one of you, but I'll try my best to be an example on and off the ice."

With that, he sat back down and earned a bunch of pats on the head from Scooby, Jonathan and Nikita. He didn't look too amused, but he wasn't sad either. He felt loved.

Coach K returned to the mic. "Thank you for that lovely speech, Tyler."

"Don't ever make me do that again, you guys. I mean it. I can only do pump up talks during game intermissions...not unplanned speeches." Tyler complained, looking at his teammates.

"It was fine. You do good," Nikita remarked. "Now you leader."

"I'm not the leader, Nikita, that's Jonny. I'm just his assistant," Tyler chuckled, patting the Russian on the arm.

"You still important now. Make big speeches and help lead team to wins!" Nikita stated.

Scooby nodded. "Couldn't have picked a better alternate to wear the mighty "A"!"

"Easy, Nichy," Jonathan remarked. "You're starting to lose your English again buddy."

Nikita smiled. "I Russian, Jonny. Of course I do it."

"True," Jonathan laughed. He turned to Percy and Jeremy. "You're going to love this team, I guarantee. And I just have to say, Percy, those hands of yours...never lose 'em, alright?"

"Alright Jonny." Percy laughed.

"And Segs, never lose that cheesy smile of yours. You two are so young and talented and special. You'll go far. I know it."

"Thanks Jonny," Jeremy said, his eyes big and round. He looked to Percy beside him. They were both beaming.

Jonathan winked at them. Crow slid over to them and leaned between the heads of the two kids. He nodded. "Sorry about all the chirping guys. I get like that sometimes—"

"—Most of the time!" Jonathan coughed.

"—but that just how I am on the ice. Off the ice, I'm a swell guy. Trust me, you earn my respect on the ice, I'll have your backs for life...unless of course you're the enemy. In that case, can't really be friends, eh?" Crow puts his arms around Jeremy and Percy and hugs them close like best friends.

"Alright Crow, please don't break the superstars now!" Jonathan joked.

Nikita wore a goofy grin as Crow pulled back from them. Scooby rolled his eyes. Jonathan took Percy's hand into his own. "You'll have to teach me your secret, Percy," the captain remarked.

"Ah, gay," Crow chirped, teasingly.

"It's my secret Jonny, there's only one of me. I'll have the softest hands in the NHL and no one else!"

Jeremy nodded in agreement. "And I'll have the cheesiest grin in the NHL and no one else!" He breaks out into his massive smile.

"And I'll lead like no one else with my co-captain, Tyler!" Jonathan exclaimed, pulling Tyler toward him.

"And I'll chirp everyone to death on the ice...like no one else!" Crow cheered.

"And I'll make saves like no other goalie in the NHL!" Scooby stated with a sharp head nod.

They turned to Nikita, who was looking around. The Russian bit his lip. "And I...I be Russian like no one else?!" He raised his arms up in a questioning pose.

Crow and Jonathan shrugged. "Yeah, that works," Jonathan stated. "You be a cute Russian like no one else, Nichy!"

Nikita soon breaks out into a cute smirk.

The Coach and GM finish off their meeting and then let the players take to the ice. They run through some drills before packing up and going home. Crow and Scooby carpool together. Apparently Tyler and Nikita are living together, so they leave together. Jonathan, Percy and Jeremy are left and they all go together.

There's just one more surprise for the Blackhawks.

They have to get the NHL season roster set. And they've just conducted a trade with the Shruingers. A new face will be joining the team and the practice squad. And he's a veteran and one that Jeremy knows too well.

(That's right you guys, Jamie Benn's character!)