Milly Anderson The Mighty Ducks [Book 1]

NHL and the grand finals

"Meet me down at the local NHL rink, I've got a surprise" Bombay had said a few days after we made the playoffs. Charlie and I sat in my Mum's car. "So do you guys know what Bombay has planned for this little outing?" Mum asks as we neared the rink. "No, he didn't tell us anything" I reply after both Charlie and I look at each other shaking our heads. Mum nodded and looked back to the road.

We meet the team in the lobby sharing confused looks before heading to the arena suddenly everyone's looks of confusion turned to delight. The North Stars practiced on the ice before skating in single file and exiting past us, we all eyed them with admiration. "Hey Gordo, Gordon Bombay right?" Two of the players I recognise as Basil McRae and Mike Modano, stop by Bombay. "You remember me?" Bombay replies. "Sure! from pee wees" Basil turns to Mike, "This guy used to rule the pee wees" "Oh yeah? I heard you were a farmer" Mike replies. I stifle a laugh. "Actually I became a lawyer, but I'm coaching pee wee now, this is my team, the Ducks. Ducks this is Basil McRae and Mike Modano" Bombay introduced them but we all knew who they were and you could tell by the chorus of sarcastic remarks after the statement. "Hey Ducks, listen to this guy he knows what he's talking about. If you ever want a shot, I'll get you a tryout in the minor league clubs" Basil offered. "Thanks" "No problem, hey nice seein' ya" "Take it easy" The two walk away and we are left awe struck. "Alright! lets have some fun!" Bombay says, we all cheer and stumble to put on our skates so we have as much time as possible on the ice. "Come on!" Charlie practically drags me as soon as I get my skates on. I skate off doing twists and jumps one uping Tammy in pirouettes, that's the most I've ever done, I guess all the excitement got my adrenaline pumping. We had so much fun having races and just being plain stupid before we were told the game was going to start soon so we had to go find our seats to watch.

I sit between Jesse and Fulton cheering every time the stars get a goal we talk among ourselves and cheer extra loud when 'welcome Bombay and the ducks' flashes on the score board. I see McGill and Larson walking down the stands watching Banks, he suddenly turns uncomfortable. On an impulse action I get up and sit on the other side of banks "Hey Adam how ya doin?" I ask. "Thanks" he says quietly with a hint of a smile on his face. "Don't worry bout it, you having fun?" I nudge him. "Yeah" he laughs "I haven't had this much fun is so long, and we definitely wouldn't do anything like this with coach Riley, it's all about winning with him" Banks replies. "Well I guess it's good your here now and if the guys from the hawks give you trouble I'll be sure to give them what they deserve and if I can't take them, Fulton here will do the job" I gesture to Fulton. This earns a laugh from Banks and we continue watching the game.

Our next game was against the hornets and we beat them 5-3, then beating the cardinals in the semi finals 4-2 we made it to the grand finals. Against the hawks.

"Isn't it going to be weird for banksie playing against his ex team?" I ask Charlie sitting on his bed while he cleaned up his room out of nerves about the finals, our pumped feeling from the celebration in the change rooms after we won the semi finals has worn off and the nerves have kicked in. Banksie was a nickname we had started calling Adam as of late. "I guess it will" Charlie replied. "I mean, the hawks are pretty set on the thought that he's a traitor, I don't know what they'll do now they get to play him" I sigh. "well lets not think about it too much Milly. Isn't it going to be so cool playing in the finals, but the hawks will be really competitive right?" Charlie says and he shoves clothes into his cupboard. "They probably will but we will be ok" I check my watch and realise the time, "I should go back home and get ready, see you at the game Charlie" I get up and walk to the door. "Bye Milly" Charlie waves as I leave.

"Okay, are you ready Milly?" Mum calls from downstairs. "Yeah mum I'm coming!" I call back grabbing all my things and shoving them into my hockey bag, then running down stairs.

The car trip consisted of me trying to take deep breaths to slow my heart rate and my mum giving me advise and a pep talk I tried to listen but I was just trying to calm myself, It is weird how nervous I am but I guess this is the first finals game we have played. My Mum decided on a different approach, she turned up the radio and walking on sunshine, our favourite song, comes on. I feel my muscles loosen and I laugh as we begin to sing.

We stood in a line parallel to the hawks line on the ice. As the crowd sang the national anthem we all death stared the other team mouthing insults and giving judging looks. The song finished and everyone cheered while we skated back to the bench. The hawks team chanted, "Win! Win! Win! Win!" some of the crowed joined in and some booed them. "Come on ducks lets get fired up!" Bombay says, so we all put our hand in and start chanting "Quack! Quack! Quack! Quack! Quack! Quack! Goooooo Ducks!" We all cheered and high fived each other getting ready to beat those stinking hawks. I got on the ice first standing in my defence position, the ref puts the puck down and before Banks can get it, McGill and Larson are already on him pushing him to the ground. Claim on the puck switches between the teams, by a few checks Banks is able to get the puck and take it up the ice but the hawks take back possession. I chase after the hawk and slide the puck out and pass it to my team mates, the hawks get it again and pass it to an empty area from which banks gets it, then two hawks check him into the boards. They score a goal and they all cheer. The end of the first period has come and we are down 3-0 "Don't be scared of them ducks," Bombay walks along the line, "that's what they want, keep your heads up, play proud, let's fly!" We cheer. I sit on the bench and look over to the hawks, I see their coach talking to McGill and Larson I can just make out him saying something about finishing someone off, I have a bad feeling it's about banks. I lean over the wall and grab Banks' jersey pulling him towards me, "Hey banksie, be careful" I say with a worried look on my face. "I will" he nods. I pat him on the shoulder before he skates away. Banks takes possession of the puck from the hawks and skates down to the goals, McGill comes up on his rear and pushes him causing him to fall and run into the goals, the puck goes in and everyone celebrates but Banks does't get up, I see Larson go over to him and kneel next to him. I jump up and open the gate skating towards them. I kneal down and pull off banks' helmet, he slowly opens his eyes as the medics come and put him on a stretcher, some of the ducks come over, "Did it go in?" Banks asks. "Yeah man" Jesse replies. "Jesse do me a favour, kick some hawk butt" the medic shines a light in Banks' eyes. "Alright, Cake-eater" Jesse chuckles. "Nice job Banksie" I pat his arm as they roll him off the ice. We skate back, One of the Hawks catches my eye, I turn and look at him, he had brown eyes and light freckles, he was kind of cute. "Here" He gives me a small piece of paper, "Call me" I nod, "I'll think about it" I say before skating off, though I have no intentions of giving it a second thought. I skate over to Tammy, "Hey Tammy, That guy wanted me to give you his number" I hand her the piece of paper and stand next to Guy and Charlie. "let me go after him coach, let me get him" Fulton says and Bombay returns. "No we're better than that" he replies, "Look it's time to play smart hockey, duck hockey, we've got the power play, hit 'em where it hurts the most, up there" Bombay points to the score board, we all agree. "Fulton you're in" "Coach they'll be rushing him" Averman says. "Right, Milly make sure you give Fulton plenty of time" Bombay says to me. "Sure thing coach" I reply. We cheer and start to head off but coach stops us, "let's have fun out there!" we all cheer even louder and I take my position on the ice, guy gets the puck and immediately passes it to Fulton, I skate up and check the two defencemen giving Fulton a full shot