Jack

Chapter One

Chapter One

Jack

"Crabb, my office, after you change."

"Sure Coach," I say knowing what's coming. It's what's always coming anymore, I'm being traded, or hell, maybe I'll just be cut.

Jack Crabb, high school all-star and the future of United States Hockey, yeah right. Jack Crabb, perennial loser and journeyman. I've been traded five times in the last three years, all while playing in the NEHL, the minor league of the hockey world.

It wasn't supposed to be like this. I was an all American in high school and drafted by the Los Angeles Coast in the third round. It wasn't as high as I thought I would go, but it wasn't bad, and I decided to take the scholarship offer to college and keep improving.

Of course that's where things went wrong in a hurry. I got a full ride to Syracuse State, and was poised to take the reins of a team that was floundering. The problem was none of the other players wanted some hot shot that was drafted by a big league team on their squad. Instead of being grateful they were getting a talent, they ostracized me from day one.

Of course I might not have tried as hard as I could have to be included. I felt like they didn't want me so I didn't need them. I was high scorer for the team my entire four years, and we never made the college playoffs during my entire span, so team player I wasn't.

I knew everything was going to change when I got to the bigs, I just knew it. Of course right before reporting to the team for assignment I was told my rights were traded to Florida. Florida didn't even bring me to the bigs, they assigned me to their NEHL squad.

I got to Portland ready to show off what I could do, and shit hit the fan. No one wanted a college grad on the team, or so they acted. I hadn't paid my dues, was another remark I heard often. It was college all over for me again. I began wondering if I even wanted this career.

Now hear I sit in one more coach's office ready to take the ass chewing I know that's coming. I quit caring a long time ago, but man I loved hockey, it had been so good to me, I hated giving it up.

"Jack, I'm going to cut right to the chase." He said and that's what I did like about Coach Sorensen, no bullshit. "You have the skills and when we watch you in practice we think you are a top league player, then you hit the ice in a game and it all goes to shit. You don't work with the other players and they don't work with you. It isn't working son and I'm sorry."

Pretty good speech, and well now I would find out if my hockey career was over or if another team would take a chance on me.

"The general manager had traded you," he says and I feel like I get to keep playing a little bit longer. "You are on your way back to Syracuse kid."

Oh fuck. I was headed to the storm, the worst team in the NEHL. They were the minor league affiliates of the Buffalo Blizzard, and neither the main team nor its minor clubs had a lot of hope. Well I was still playing so I guess that was a plus.

"Jack, can I give you some advice?" Coach asked and I couldn't wait to hear these words of wisdom that were going to make me a bona fide star. I thought feeling surly inside.

"Yeah Coach," I whispered out.

"You need to find what you are missing. You need to figure out what you used to love about playing hockey before it got crushed. Jack, I know for a fact this is your last chance. No other team wanted you. Listen to me son, find that missing piece, and find it quick, or you are all done."