1989 || Luke Hughes

Chapter 10: Wonderland

Quince's skates sliced through the ice, carving arcs of determination as she and Luke executed their defensive drills. Coach Ruff observed from the sidelines, his keen eye assessing every move with a scrutinizing gaze. But there was something more to his scrutiny, a hint of contemplation that lingered beneath the surface.

As practice progressed, Quince couldn't shake off the feeling of déjà vu that washed over her. The drill Coach Ruff had them doing was so similar to a drill her old coach made her do. The same meticulous attention to detail during the whole drill.

But just as Quince began to resign herself to the familiar cycle of rigorous training, Coach Ruff surprised her with an unexpected announcement.

"Alright, team, gather around," Coach Ruff called out, beckoning The Devils to huddle up at center ice. "I have an exciting announcement to make. Starting today, we'll be bringing in a new addition to our coaching staff to help bolster our defensive lineup."

Quince's heart skipped a beat as Coach Ruff's words hung in the air, anticipation tingling in her veins. Who could the new coach be? And what would their arrival mean for the team?

As if in answer to her silent questions, a figure emerged from the shadows of the rink, striding purposefully toward the huddle. Quince's breath caught in her throat as recognition dawned on her – it was Coach Thompson, her former mentor, the Coach who tried to sabotage her draft.

"Everyone, please welcome Coach Thompson," Coach Ruff announced, his voice brimming with enthusiasm. "He'll be joining us as our defensive coach, working closely with each pair to quicken up our backline."

Quince's mind reeled as Coach Thompson stepped into the circle, his gaze meeting hers with a mixture of surprise and apprehension. It had been months since she had last seen him, since she had last felt the weight of his expectations bearing down upon her.

But as Coach Thompson began to outline his plans for the defensive unit, Quince felt a spark of something stir within her – not determination but a flicker of fear and resentment, a glimmer of what's to come.

With Coach Thompson's guidance, Quince threw herself into her defensive drills. As she and Luke honed their defensive partnership under Coach Thompson's watchful eye, Quince felt a sense of wariness. She felt the weight on her shoulders already and she hoped it wouldn't happen to Luke.

Coach Thompson was a stern taskmaster who believed in pushing his players to their limits and far beyond them too. For Quince, that often meant staying late after practice to work on drills or skate extra laps. While she understood the importance of hard work, the constant pressure had sometimes left her feeling burnt out and demotivated.

As the final whistle blew, signaling the end of practice, Quince's heart sank when Coach Ruff called her and Luke over.

"Quince and Luke, can you stay behind for a bit? There are a few things Coach Thompson would like to work on with you," Coach Ruff said, his tone gentle but firm.

Quince nodded, trying to suppress the knot of anxiety that had formed in her stomach. She knew what was coming – extra drills, more practice, the familiar cycle of relentless exertion.

As the rest of the team filed out of the rink, Quince and Luke braced Themselves for what lay ahead. Coach Thompson skated over to her, his expression unreadable.

"Listen, Quince, I know you're a talented player," he began, his voice tinged with sincerity. "But I also see room for improvement, areas where we can really take your game to the next level."

Quince felt a flicker of hope ignite within her. Perhaps Coach Thompson had changed. Maybe he saw something in her worth nurturing, rather than simply pushing to the brink of exhaustion.