Keith is another no brainer. If we didn’t have such stellar seniors last year, I’m sure he would’ve already been an alternate captain. There are a few other seniors that could fit the bill, but I’m partial to adding a junior or even sophomore to the captain roster. If all the alternate captains are seniors, leadership will be gone after this year, which is the situation we’re in now.
Last year, Liam Welsh and Conner Rizzo, were both alternate captains, while I was captain as a junior.
Liam has been my ride or die since I came to West my freshman year. It feels a little off without him around. Once the season starts, it’s going to feel even weirder with the two of them gone. I still talk to them both every now and again, but they are super busy being big shots in the national hockey league—Liam playing for the Seattle Kraken and Conner for the New York Rangers. I’m insanely happy and proud of them both, but it doesn’t make me wish they were here any less.
The junior candidates for alternate captain are plentiful. Blaine Mitchell might be a contender, but I’m not hopeful that he’ll step up. He used to be the biggest problem child on the team, but he did turn things around at the end of last season.
For some reason, Blaine is coming on the beach trip with us. Last year, none of my friends would have wanted to be around him. So far this summer, he hasn’t gotten in any brawls or tried to convince anyone else to get in any. Granted it’s only been a few weeks of summer, but it’s progress over his delinquent antics from last year. The trip will give me a better idea on how Blaine and Tyler are as leaders outside of the typical campus environment.
That leaves Ryder King, the godsend golden boy coming to West as a freshman, as my final contender. Every major college team chased himlast year to recruit the kid. Rumor is he’s better than Nick Bellinger, better than me, and the next Sidney Crosby.
We’ll see about that.
I met him briefly when he came to watch us play a few games—he seemed like a normal, eager player to me, but there are countless rumors about him being demanding, selfish, and cocky as hell.
There have never been any freshmen in Wyverns history to be alternative captains. Even if he’s a prodigy, I’m hesitant to make a freshman alternate captain when other players have put their blood, sweat, and tears into the team for countless hours over the years.
“Hey, when is Ryder King coming to campus?” Keith calls from the kitchen, snapping me out of my thoughts.
“Tomorrow,” I respond. “But he still hasn’t said if he is coming to the beach with us.”
He’s the only new player who was invited to join. Sure, he doesn’t know any of us, but it would be a good opportunity for him to connect with the team off the ice. If I were him, I would be going, even if only to start making connections with my new teammates.
“I bet he’ll join.” Keith flops back down on the couch.
“If I were him, I’d be wanting to get to know the upperclassmen on the team as soon as possible and prove myself.” I hand him the remote, unable to find anything worth putting on the TV.
“He’s going to make us better this year.” Keith’s voice is full of excitement. “We are going to kick ass. I feel it in my bones.”
I’m hopeful and optimistic about this upcoming season too. Last season, the team played harder than ever before, and we dominated. Sure, we no longer have some of our best players, but with the new talent, I’m hopeful we can make it to the Frozen Four college hockey championship again.
My focus will have to be split between myself and the team this year, while I try to impress scouts and secure a future with an NHL team. I won’t admit it to anyone, but when I think about the pressure of playing, knowing scouts are watching, where every move I make couldimpact my future, I feel my stomach tighten, my hands grow clammy, and my throat starts to close.
The first thirty minutes of my “alone time” at the beach needs to be dedicated toward reviewing my notes. It’ll help me recommend alternate captains. The other thirty minutes will be working through this new anxiety I have, which I’m still unsure how to really do.
“Want to watch Family Feud?” Keith asks, finally stopping on a channel. “It’s my comfort show.”
“Sure man,” I chuckle, walking to the kitchen to get water.
I wish I had a comfort show. Or honestly, a comfort anything because nothing seems to help me unwind and deal with my stress lately. I need to put more effort into finding ways to handle it before the season starts and the real stress begins. I’ve done some research on meditation and think I need to give it more of a try. Some great players in the NHL seem to find it helps them. I really hope it helps me. Nothing has helped to ease my mind.
“Damn, I’ve already seen this episode,” Keith complains before a loud laugh erupts from him. “Hurry up, Luc. The next round is about to get juicy!”
Chapter four
Laur
My sore back didn’t love the flight to the beach, but at least I wasn’t five rows back where Blake, Tyler, and Keith were squished into one row. They looked like they could barely breathe. The flight felt so much longer than just two-and-a-half hours. My eyes kept threatening to close. I had to fight myself to stay awake on the plan to review all of Libby and Bren’s top twenty candidates to join the marketing and PR team. Sadly, I didn’t even get through them all.
When planning for this trip, I was giddy with excitement at the opportunity to have a relaxing, stress-free time. Bren and I easily convinced a group of guys from the hockey team to come. Once Lucas and Keith were onboard, Blake, Silas and Brooks were easily convinced. Tyler took no convincing. Brooks told Blaine about the trip, so we had to invite him too.
But now it seems like I’ll have more work than I anticipated. At least I’ll have multiple days of being out in the sun, tanning with the sparkling sand between my toes. Seeing Lucas without a shirt most of the trip doesn’t sound too bad either.
The massive white trimmed front porch of Lucas’ aunt’s house comes into view as we turn into the excessively long driveway. There's even an overside porch swing. She graciously let us use her beach house in Gulf Shores free of charge. The elaborate structure more resembles a mansion rather than a simple beach house.
A grin spreads from ear to ear when my eyes fall to the glittering beach that is practically in the backyard. The beach reminds me of my childhood. My parents tried to take Nick and me every other yearwhen we were kids. There’s even a grill area, which is truthfully much more of a large outdoor kitchen and in-ground pool with lounge chairs and daybeds. Our own little slice of heaven.
My eyes widen as I walk through the garage and into the massive kitchen, complete with shiny high end appliances and a grand table that will definitely seat us all. The living room is decked out with tasteful upscale seaside decor complete with an oversized, white sectional sofa that I pray no one spills on.
