Mitts (OLD VERSION)

2. The Game

We were absolutely screwed, that was a guarantee. I had seen the stats of the guys we were versing, we were screwed. Everett may not have been a good team, but there were some decent players that could definitely beat us in a game without breaking a sweat. They recruited fantastic players, people who had a real shot of being powerhouses on the ice. But the team never came together cohesively.

In my opinion, it was because there was never a central playmaker. They were bad at adjusting their plays to other teams and it was their major downfall. They were too big on the plays they learned and not strong enough on adapting on the ice. It–

"So...I don't want to play center," Natty started.

"Not it." Anton had a finger to his nose.

"Not it!" Natty quickly followed.

"Dude seriously?" I asked Natty.

"You think I'm gonna go head-to-head with Devs? Voluntarily? That's so cute." Natty laughed, "Good luck man."

"I'm the only left-winger here, why can't I play my position?" I asked.

"Because Devs is on center. I'm not touching that with a ten foot pole." Natty laughed.

I groaned and skated to center ice. I hadn't played center since 18U and even then that was only for a month before we got someone else to play it. I didn't like playing center. It was too much attention on me. I wasn't good enough to ever play center, especially not at a D1 level even for a team like Everett.

Devs laughed, "They sent you? You're going down fresh meat."

I rolled my eyes and got into position, "Oh c'mon 'Bama, no tough response?" He chirped, "The cold freeze your brain yet?"

Devs had a brown faux mullet and typically sported a scowl on his face. I knew his stats a bit too well. Devin Hill, class of 2022, played for Boston Prep and the Boston Raiders all four years of high school. 5th in the country for 18U players, with sparkling records and seasons until an off-season major hand injury in his junior year tanked his stats right before his senior year. Still handled senior year well, but only managed to be 19th overall in the country. But he had a reputation, stats, and the height that towered over me. He came from a program that pumped out pros by the dozens with every graduating class.

Boston Prepatory was the best school for high school hockey. It was expected that their roster was full of people who were also on the Boston Raiders, they practiced at the same ice and everything. They were Northeast hockey elites, there hadn't been a season in the past decade that the Raiders didn't at least make it to 18U semis and Prep's team swept the state every season. Those were the programs that built Devs from the ground up. They trained him, prepared him for greatness, and gave him such an ego on the ice.

I wouldn't hate him as much if he didn't have such an ego. Tombow, Davey, and Dan came from Boston Prep and played for the Raiders too but none of them were as cocky, smug, or arrogant as Devs. To be fair, none of them had the type of stats that Devs could boast about but they all probably got at least two other D1 offers. Devs was a mystery though. Why would have chosen to join the worst team in the league when he could've easily gotten a second-line slot on North Boston's roster?

He probably wanted some savior prodigy story, the miracle on ice that came from his joining of the team. That he could be the one to whip Everett's hockey program back into shape, turning it from dead last to first in the nation. It definetly hadn't panned out that way so far though.

I got into position at center ice for the face-off.

Riv had the puck, "Ok boys, I want a fair game this year. No frosh teasing or harassment." He looked over at Tombow.