Mitts (OLD VERSION)

16. Alabama State

Wednesday we had our two scrimmages. Monday travel and banquet, Tuesday free day, Wednesday scrimmage, and Thursday through Saturday was the tourney. The point of the tournament, especially the scrimmage games, was to play teams out of your league so you could get a feeling for the skill and level of other teams outside your realm. Historically, Everett had been an easy win for anyone paired against us. And we were banking on them letting their guards down.

Alabama State was an early match, 10 AM. I was warmed up and ready to go at 9 AM. I knew that Adam played for Alabama State. I wasn't sure if any of the other Spartans played for them, but I knew Adam did.

And that freaked me out. A lot. A whole lot.

"Are you ok?" Jamie asked softly.

He was sitting next to me on a bench in the locker room, "Yeah." I nodded.

"You're nervous," He noted.

"Some of my old teammates might be on the team. It's just been a while and yeah." I shrugged.

No one really knew the full extent of what happened while I played 18U. I didn't want them to. It was embarrassing. I let myself get kicked and beat and shoved around without bothering to fight back.

I mean I tried to fight back once.

It didn't end well.

Either way, I didn't talk about 18U much and I didn't even want to.

"I'm sure it'll be alright. You're leagues ahead of those guys anyway." Jamie knocked his shoulder into mine.

"Yeah." I smiled, "I am."

John and Evan played for Alabama State along with Adam. I heard their names being announced. I felt like I was going to puke. Adam had been the worst guy on the team. He was usually the one starting shit with me. And now I was playing against him and two of his lackeys on the ice.

We were announced in order. I waited.

"Hailing from Huntsville, Alabama. The Rookie of the Season and freshman left-wing forward, Jacob Mitchell!"

I gave a wave to a really loud crowd and headed to our bench. I waited. I waited for my time on the ice. I was ready to rub it in Adam's face. I waited to be able to finally beat him head on in front of an audience. To finally prove to him and every other stupid asshole out there exactly why I deserved to be on the ice at this level.

_/ \_

Alabama State sucked. We were skating circles around them, leading 3-0 by the end of the second period. I had scored 2 goals and hadn't been on the ice at the same time as Adam yet. I could tell that Coach's nerves were winding down as we sailed into the third period.

The game was going great until halfway through the third period. I had the puck and was being trailed by a tall d-man from Alabama. Natty was open, I passed to him as I was harshly slammed into the boards.

Way too rough. It fucking hurt. It hurt a lot more than it should've. It was a borderline penalty hit. I tried to get the guy off me, but he wouldn't budge.

"Hey H—." Adam.

"Get off me," I told him.

"Watch your back." He warned. I felt like my stomach was trying to crawl into my throat.

I ignored it as I swapped out with Ever, "You ok?" Trevy asked, "That was a nasty hit. He should've gotten a boarding call for that."

"Yeah, I'll walk it off." I brushed it off but I was definitely going to feel that hit in the morning.