You're a lifestyle journalist assigned to the parenting and maternity beat-usually reporting on postpartum health or new-mom survival hacks. But this month, your editor has a new pitch: Fatherhood in Focus-a special feature on high-profile single dads navigating the impossible. Your first subject? Jacob Markström, veteran NHL goalie for the New Jersey Devils, who unexpectedly became a solo parent overnight. It's been a quiet storm behind the scenes. His wife left nearly a year ago without warning, just weeks after giving birth to their second son. Since then, Markström's been parenting Clark, a rambunctious two-year-old with the sass of a teenager, and Elias, an 11-month-old who still wakes up crying every night, alone. You don't expect Jacob to agree to an interview. He's infamously private-his press presence has been limited to post-game clichés and muttered goalie speak. But when your email is returned with: "One hour. Don't push." -you find yourself driving to a quiet neighborhood in Hoboken, recorder in hand, heart bracing. What you find isn't what you expected. Jacob is guarded. Gruff. Tired in the way only single parents are. But beneath the stubble and tension is a man trying desperately to be everything for two small boys. A man who cuts apples into shapes for Clark's lunchbox. A man who holds Elias against his chest during naps, arms wrapped protectively around the only thing he has left. You come looking for a story. But you stay for something else-something softer than you thought Jacob Markström was capable of. Because maybe, just maybe, behind every grumpy goalie is a man hoping someone might choose to stay. *Updates every saturday :) *

Requests are welcome; just be specific about what you would like so I can read it correctly. This is just for fun. I've had these written down for a while, so I'll keep uploading them as I reread them and fix

It's the playoffs. It's do or die. Quinn Hughes is living with the weight of the world on his shoulders. It's his first year as captain and he has managed the incredible feat of leading his team all the way to the playoffs. The pressure he is feeling is insurmountable. On one hand he wants to go all the way, needs to get to the top not only for his team but for the honor of raising the Stanley cup above his head. On the other hand he has to do it, he has no choice but to grind and grind with the only goal of proving people wrong. It's not a dream, it's a necessity. He's young, he knows. He makes mistakes, he knows but at the end of the day the most important thing is that Quinn Hughes knows he has what it takes to make it to the highest level. To win the hardest trophy in every sport, and if he doesn't win he might just loose himself in the process. Quinn is drowning in the pressure, in the expectations, and the sheer desperation to win. He's at his breaking point, teetering over the edge of his lowest low. In enters Elsie Hartley, Quinn's newly appointed assistant. It's her job to follow him everywhere and surprisingly Quinn doesn't seem to mind. Her presence is a life force. A light in the darkness. In a twist of events Elsie is the reason Quinn is able to make it to the top. She helps shoulder some of the weight, eases the suffocating pressure and believes in him so deeply it causes him to believe in himself, in his team, and their ability to win. And of course, they do just that. Winning the Stanley Cup is supposed to be his biggest achievement, it's supposed to be the only thing he can focus on, but lately his mind is wandering to a certain red haired, blue eyed assistant who without realizing it just made all his dreams come true. Now, he's got another goal in mind. One more thing he has to win, the heart of that same assistant.

What haunts Sam Hughes? ("The Multitudes Within Me" is the sequel to "The Sound of Ice.")

Hockey player extraordinaire Cameron Beckett not only has to deal with the pressures of making it into the NHL and graduating high school, but also figuring out his feelings for the boy next door. ***** Cameron Beckett is the ace and co-captain of his hockey team, but he's failing his math class so badly that his coach threatens to bench him if he doesn't improve his grades. He turns to Sam, his neighbor, only to start developing feelings for him that he's not ready to confront. Cameron pulls away, afraid that his sexuality will cost him any chance of being drafted into the NHL. But when Sam needs him the most, Cameron can't be there for him, making him question whether his fear of coming out is actually holding him back.

Moss Kettler has always been overshadowed by his impressive younger brothers. After graduating college Moss falls into a quiet life working for an accounting firm in Detroit. Meanwhile, both of his younger brothers play for the same NHL team with the youngest being freshly drafted to the Colorado Boulders. Now that two out of three Kettler brothers are playing professional hockey, Moss comes to the realization that his family may not have as much interest in him in comparison. Throughout the hockey season Moss' theory is validated by his once close-knit family. As he begins to accept his ostracization a star defenseman swoops in to show Moss the true meaning of sportsmanship (and love).

𝐈𝐍 𝐖𝐇𝐈𝐂𝐇 𝐌𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐋𝐃𝐀 𝐁𝐑𝐈𝐃𝐆𝐄𝐑𝐒 was always a hockey fan, she just never thought she would fall for someone who played in the nhl. it's not finished lol

｡°✩ | ˗ˏˋ ☆ ˎˊ˗ | 𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿 "but you always really knew i just want to be with you" ❝ i love her but she won't forgive me ❞ ❝ i think she will ❞ quinn hughes x oc irl x social media © blond43d 2023

"I just want to stay in that lavender haze..." LAVENDER HAZE: termed in the 1950s, meaning to be deeply in love. Like a honeymoon phase or dream like state in a relationship.

he wasn't expecting this sophie demko made a far bigger impact on his life than anybody else had (anaheim ducks) (social media & real life)