The Hockey Player

12

For the next couple of days. Luis and Nyx didn't see much of each other. Coach Orion had the team busy as ever. Focus on getting them ready to face Varsity. Having hours long practice on and outside of the rink.

While Mr.Carol has the drama club working on perfecting their performance and getting them ready for anything. Also having them for hours after school. Both events are happening one after the other. The game was on Friday while the play was on Saturday.

Luis and Nyx did make time for a couple of minutes before practice. Luis would come by and say hi to Nyx at her locker. "Hey hey" Luis came running, hugging Nyx but Nyx pushed him lightly. "No offense but you smell like you've been playing in trash cans" Nyx made a face, Luis just smiled awkwardly. "Yeah, Coach Orion has us banging the junk," Luis explained. "I don't know what that means but good luck" Nyx said, quickly kissing Luis on the cheek. "Now go before you're late for practice". She pushes him towards the direction of the rink. He just kisses her on the cheek before rushing out.

Dean Buckley also was putting a lot on Mr.Carol of pressure for Nyx to do the greatest performance for the JV-Varsity game. The board agreed on having Nyx perform instead of the cheerleaders. Which got Nyx glaring stares from both JV and Varsity cheerleaders. Corinne said that it was a good idea, it might encourage people to come to the play if they like Nyx's performance.

The night before the game between JV and Varsity, Nyx and Luis met up at the rink. "Are you nervous?" Nyx asked as they sat in the stands, overlooking the ice. "Kinda, we want to win for Hans but also to beat Varsity." Luis replied, looking at Nyx. "You guys will. The ducks have been putting in the work." Nyx nudges shoulders with Luis.

"Are you nervous about the play?" Luis asks next. "Yes and No," Nyx replied. "That sure answers my question" Luis joked and Nyx just pushed him lightly. "I mean, I practiced it a million times. I could do it in my sleep but seeing you and your team, like there is actual friendship behind the puck and the hockey sticks. There's trust and camaraderie. I envy it. The drama club doesn't have that. If it does, I haven't seen it" Nyx explained. "But you look more free when you perform. At least when you do it before games." Luis replied.

"I do enjoy it but it's kinda lonely when you think about it. All alone on the stage." Nyx replied. Luis and Nyx stayed there for a while before going to rest for the next day.

Nyx and Corinne went to the rink to make sure that everything was all ready for Nyx to perform. They saw the small makeshift stage was already in place and everything was in order.

Later that night, Nyx did her performance which put the whole crowd in a good mood. Nyx walked out of the ice and saw the ducks already ready to hit the ice. "This is where I hand over the ice to you guys" Nyx jokes, the ducks smile and nod. Nyx quickly changed to go and find Corinne and her brother.

"For Hans," Charlie said looking at Fulton and Russ. The players one by one came on to the ice and made a turn on the ice. One player after another took off a glove and touched the ice. From the radio booth, the student announcer explained to the crowd the significance of the gesture. "It looks like the junior varsity team is paying homage to their departed friend and mentor, Hans. Touching the ice is a Norwegian sign of respect."

At the horn, both coaches pulled their teams over for last-minute instructions.

"They don't belong on the ice with us. Now get out there and PROVE IT!"Coach Wilson barked at his players.

On the other side of the ice, Coach Orion tried to calm down his players. "Let's go hunting for goose eggs!" He stuck his hand out. "All right! On three. Quack! Quack! Quack!" That did it. The tension was shattered immediately. The players picked up the chant as they skated onto the ice. Soon the entire building was thundering with the booming chant of "Quack! Quack! Quack!"

On the opening face-off, Riley and Adam faced each other "You're going to wish like hell you stayed with us," Rick snarled, "Save the trash talk," Adam snapped.

"The puck is dropped, and here we go. Ooh, Varsity comes out hard. Ooh! Big save by Julie the Cat. At this rate, it's gonna take a miracle for the Ducks to hang on. Goldberg, spectacular toe save, as the Ducks are playing real defense." The student announced

After a change on the ice, The student started again. "Warriors are swarming. Gaffney comes up big again! Conway gets the rebound and ices the puck. I don't know how much longer these Ducks can hang on. "

After an offside call, Julie whipped off her mask. She was breathing hard. She took a huge swig of water as Charlie skated up and tapped her lightly on the shin pad.

"Way to hang tough," he told her. Guy skated up to Charlie. "These guys keep charging. What are we going to do?" Charlie was pumped. He was a man on a mission. "We're going to stand up to them," he told Guy. "And play a little defense"

The student started speaking, "It's Goldberg, Germaine and Averman. Everyone's getting into the act now. They're clearing out the garbage in front of the net. They aren't gonna allow any cheap goals tonight. First shot on the varsity goalie. Save! Ah, he came up big."

Later in the period, the varsity center broke the blue line and slid a pass to his left wing. He made a quick slap shot. Goldberg decided to play a little defense. Standing about ten feet out in front of the net, Goldberg suddenly dropped and took the puck on the hip. The puck dropped to the ice and Goldberg leaped on it before a varsity player could dig it out. "Thanks, Goldberg," Julie called out.

Goldberg bowed nonchalantly. "Nothing but garbage."

The period ended with no score. Riley slammed his helmet onto the bench. Coach Wilson fumed at his players. "Pick up the hitting! You're playing like a bunch of old ladies out there!" He warned his players, "Now get out there and HIT THEM!"

"Well, if you can't beat 'em, beat 'em. That seems to be Wilson's message because the varsity is really nailing the Ducks now. Whoa, Lester Averman just got leveled.

He must be seeing stars." the student said once seeing that Varsity was mostly trying to trip the ducks. "Orion sends out Fulton and their new defensive weapon, Goldberg. Huge save by Gaffney. She got caught out of the net, but she scrambled back in...just in the nick of time. Nice save,Julie the Cat. "

On the first offensive scrimmage, the varsity pushed the puck deep into the freshman zone. Guy circled behind the net. But when he tried to clear the puck, he was clotheslined with a ferocious forearm. He crashed hard into the ice."Oh, now this is getting out of hand. Guy Germaine just took a vicious check into the boards. He's down, and he's not getting up."

Charlie slipped through a maze of defenders and took the puck on a flip pass in the slot. Two seconds to go. He set up for a slap shot. One second. The horn sounded ending the second period. Charlie pulled up and threw up his hands in frustration. "Oh, beat by the buzzer. Two periods done, it's still no score. You really gotta wonder how much longer the freshman can take this pounding."