Getting the Goal isn't Everything

Chapter 2

I stepped onto the ice and felt the adrenaline start pumping through my body. I was gonna make this team, I thought. We started with a warm up. Some skating drills and some stretching. I found I could keep up with most of the players. I was 6-1 so I was as tall as some of the players taller than most of them and shorter than a few. I think I could have a good shot at making this team. I thought in my head. I guess ill have to way and see.

So after the skating drills the coaches lined us up for some shots. At one end of the ice it was a few strides and a slap shot from the point. At the other end was a one timer from inside the face off circle down low. I started at the slap shot end. After a few people in front of me shot. I thought to myself wow I think I can make this team. These players aren't much better than me. Hell even some of them are worse. Until the blonde kid I saw earlier took a slap shot. Top right corner, full power, goalie didn't even react. It's like the goalie knew he had no chance and didn't even try to stop it. "YEAH nice shot Jason." One of the coaches called, so that was his name, Jason.

Well Jason I'm not letting you outshine me, I thought. I took a few strides and BOOM. My slap shot went right underneath the goalies blocker. Beside me John said "Nice shot rookie, you can play." "Thanks John." I said, After we switched ends the coaches decided to give us a little scrimmage time. He put me, the red head twins, John and a couple other people up against Jason, a big bulky LW named Joey and a few more people I didn't know yet. And then the game began.

It was a bit faster than AA but I adjusted to it quickly. My defense partner a guy named Evan had an amazing pass and shot and was physical but was a bit slow. Me on the other hand I don't really have a superior skill. I'm more of an all around defensemen. When Evan passed to me behind the net as soon as I touch the puck Jason drills me from behind into the boards and the next thing I know I'm on the bench and the trainer is leaning over me.

"Are you okay Mark." the trainer says. "I'm fine but what happened, the last thing I remember was getting checked by Jason." "Yes he hit you awfully hard from behind into the boards." "You may have kinda blacked out for a few seconds so we just brought you off just in case. "Well I gotta get back on I've only got 30 minutes left to prove what I'm made of." "Okay fine but don't go after Jason, okay Mark." "Don't worry I won't I'm way to focused on just making this team to worry about that son of a gun." I jumped on the ice the next shift. The puck was dumped into our end and I did a shoulder check and saw Jason coming at me full speed I waited and waited for the right moment and as he was decide away from drilling me again.

I do a spin o Rama and dodge his check and he trips and falls I pick up more speed as I go across the redline. I dance around 2 more guys going across the blue line I pick up more speed and beat the last guy I fake left and go right and beat the goalie with a backhand top shelf. "WOO HOO." "YEAH" I yell. John and Evan come to celebrate with me and the 2 redheads just line up for the next face off.

"Wow Mark you played amazing, you're really good." John said. "Yeah Mark you were an amazing defense partner." Evan said "Wow thanks guys." I felt a bit good myself actually. I thought I had a good enough tryout to make the team but wow that was the hardest 4 hours of my life. I got a goal and 2 assists more than most people and me and Evan were almost perfect together.