Mighty Ducks: Game Changers

Episode 3- Coach Classic

The Coach Classic has never been one of my favorite activities at EPIC. In fact, I think it's all a bit crazy. Like, sure, Coaches vs. Kids, sounds like a regular summer camp activity, right? But no, this game is crazy. The Coaches take it way too seriously for it to even be any fun for the kids. Jace has played in a few, and he says it's like real pro hockey out there but with a big smile on his face like that's all he ever wanted in life. This year, if he gets a golden jersey, I don't think he'll be thinking the same thing.

I'm standing there near Jace as Coach Cole explains it. And then, the video of the game last year. The one where Jace smoked everyone and scored. I see a girl from the Mighty Ducks team up front look back at Jace, who shifts awkwardly on his feet and then leaves. I shake my head and follow him.

When I find him, he's in the dorm hallway, throwing a ball against the wall. I've seen him do this a few times before, when he messes up in a game or in practice and he blames himself.

I sit down next to him. "Hey."

"Hey."

"It wasn't cool of your dad to put you in that video like that, I know."

Jace rolls his eyes. "He thinks that by watching all my great hockey videos that it will get rid of my glitch. It doesn't help though; it really only makes things worse. Seeing myself so happy in the game, it makes me think that maybe my glitch will never go away. I mean, even before the glitch, I wasn't finding the game as fun as I used to. It's kinda like you, when your dad died. How you didn't find happiness in the game anymore. That's how I feel now, and it's not just because of the glitch. Which is why I haven't been wanting to play hockey this summer."

I'm about to respond when Sofi, the girl that looked back at Jace during the video, comes up to us.

"Hey!" She calls.

Jace doesn't respond, continuing to bounce the ball against the wall. I stay quiet too, knowing she's not here to talk to me.

She finally grabs the ball midair. "That was you in that video."

Jace sighs. "Not anymore. Can I have my ball back?"

"I looked you up online. You were ranked number three in the country for your age. They were saying you could play in the NHL."

"Thanks for letting me know. I'll have to check that out," Jace says sarcastically.

Sofi sighs. "What, so you don't want to talk about it?"

"You don't want to hear it. I mean, you're at hockey camp. You love hockey. You don't want to hear how it can mess you up."

"Maybe I do want to hear it."

"You know, you could back off," I say, looking up at her. "He doesn't have to talk about it to you. You don't even know him."

"Eve, it's fine," Jace says, placing a hand on my arm. He looks at Sofi. "Okay, so you wanna hear about how all the pressure my dad put on me made me choke in the biggest game of my life and score on my own goal? Or do you wanna hear about how I had a meltdown and now I have a glitch in my shot that won't go away? You wanna hear that one?"

We fall silent for a moment.

"I'm really sorry," Sofi says.

Jace inhales deeply. "I'm over it."

"Maybe I can help. Cause I-"

"No, you can't!" Jace says fiercely. "You all come from around the country to train with my dad and be the best. Well, congrats, on being part of EPIC, the Elite Performance Ice Center. I really hope that works out for you. Now can I have my ball back?"