On Thin Ice

Chapter 20- fill in the gaps

JIMIN POV:

"Okay what are the three first things you think of when you receive the puck?"

"Whether my offence line's there, any openings or breaks in the opponent team's defence and whether it's in the best interest to pass the puck or keep it."

Joon nods, approval in his eyes.

"And if your offence line isn't there or just one of them is?"

"Partner work with them until there's a clear line of attack for any of the three of us to take a shot for goal."

"So in both of them... what's your biggest strength? Or the highest chance of scoring a goal?"

"...with my offence line. With Bam and Yugi." I breathe, the realisation stares at me in the face, looks at me with careful eyes and slow words drawn out and chosen. Tone level, easing the answers out of me.

"There's been one consistency in your playing that's been lowering your goal-scoring rate. Have you noticed what it is?"

I stare at him for a few beats, the answer dangling in front of my eyes and yet I can't word it, can't bring myself to knowing the flicker of shame that'll course through me.

His fingers rewind the game footage, press play to let the two of us watch last week's practice game replay on the screen. Particularly the footage of when I'd been trying to score.

Keyword... trying.

The result? Failing.

The puck's intercepted by the defence line and shot swiftly towards Lee and his offence team. He doesn't rely on them much... if at all, so used to playing as an individual, so insistent on monopolising the puck, the chance of scoring. A one-man team, an individual force that charges through the ice, rough and bulldozing his way towards the goal.

He doesn't score.

JB and Joon intercept it cleanly before he does.

But the motions are a rougher, more abrasive reflection of the way I had just played on screen, the same one-mindedness intent to score... whatever it took. That I hadn't bothered to rely on my offence duo, I hadn't utilised their strengths to play to our team's favour. I'd done what Lee is known for doing. I'd tried scoring alone, scoring without using my team. And it'd failed.

"I've not even tried to pass to Yugi or Bam. And they were open to receive at any point." Remarking at the large pockets of space around them, they'd been right there, one pass could've easily enabled both of them to steer the puck towards the goal before passing it back. Or taking a shot at it themselves. They'd been right there... but I'd chosen to stick to the insistence that I could do it. And that I could do it alone.

"Why not?" Joon's voice is level. Curious.

"I thought it'd be easier and quicker to go to try shoot than to pass." I shrug, but my eyes are drawn back to the screen. To the sight of Bam and Yugi skating nearer towards me, having my back, in position and ready to assist without forcefully interjecting.

They'd been ready. And I blew off the most basic rule of common sense in ice hockey. Use your team.

It's a team sport for god's sake.

And I'd tried to solo it.

"What it did—is pits three offence-players against you or the offence line go for Bam and Yugi and then defence only need to focus on you. It leaves gaps—see?"

And it's clear Joon's taken the time to review the game footage from the past couple of weeks. Broken down sequences and repetitive plays overlapping on the screen. All pointing out the same thing.