In which Jimmy can't seem to fall asleep on a late night bus ride (unlike his teammates). And ends up deep in conversation with his Coach's quiet daughter.
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When Rizzo Snores
They'd been slaughtered. Not just slaughtered, utterly obliterated and completely humiliated. Their coaches knew it. The crowd knew it. The other team knew it. And all the players knew it. They won't stand a chance at Lake Placid if something doesn't change. And every aforementioned party has begun to pray something will - except maybe the other team.
It was a routine loss for Jim Craig. The locker room was silent, save for OC's muffled grunts where Doc worked out his knee. Jim was busy taking off his gear, thoughts deeply buried in what had just happened. How he could have let his team down so. Ten goals. The other team scored ten goals. He let the puck slip past him ten times.
He thought he would have been relieved when Janny was put into play*, but something about it stung him to his core. He was happy for Janny to get time to play - and hopefully put the game back on track - but after trailing for so long he figured it was saying something about a lot more than his game. About him.
He was sure Herb had a plan - he always did - but Jimmy had wracked his brain for answers and came up short. His head churned up a bunch more questions. What would they think of him? What would Herb think of him? What would his teammates think of him? What would his mom think of him?
With a heavy sigh, he hoists his gear to stow it away as is customary. He couldn't He could feel his coach's presence before the older man even stepped foot in the room. He heard the muffled sounds of Herb talking with OC. Then he heard the sound of a fist banging the table. He frowns, hating to see Jack in such a situation. He was so focused on the aforementioned noises, he barely heard his coach address him.
"I'm thinking about sitting ya down, Jim." Jimmy couldn't believe his ears. Sure, he'd played a rough game, but they all did. He wasn't benching anyone else.
"What?"
"Nah," Herb continues as if Jim hadn't even spoken. "It's not your fault, I've played you too hard. You're too tired." It was like Herb was trying to slap him in the face. "Besides, it's high time I give Janny a look. He's been waiting for seven months."
Jim steps in front of his coach, stopping Herb dead in his tracks. He's not about to let his coach bench him. He's been working too hard for this opportunity. He can't let his mother down like that.
"You can't do that." Jim knows full well that he absolutely can. "That's my net, man." Herb sighs, indifference swimming in his eyes.
