Toni
Icecrystalssprayedupacross my skates as I stopped my forward movement, my eyes fixed on the puck as it glided across the ice.Volkova was there, but she was a beat too slow, her puck just missing the stop.Vancouver’s rookie goalie tried to catch it, but the puck slid in just between her and the corner of the net.
Goal!
The buzzer sounded, signaling the end of the game.
I lifted my hands in victory as my team surrounded me, congratulating me on getting the game winning goal.It didn’t matter where we were in the standings, any opportunity to beat our archrival was sweet.
I looked up, locking eyes with Yvonne Volkova.We’d been playing against each other for years, ever since college.She was a good player, but I was better.
Even through the visor I could see the storm in her dark brown eyes.It was the only indication that she was pissed that I’d slipped past her.The defender was known for her icy control, no pun intended.
Even earlier in the game when she’d slammed me against the boards so hard I thought I’d cracked a rib she seemed eerily calm.
Volkova didn’t like to lose any more than the rest of us.She wasn’t above playing dirty if she could get away with it.We’d faced off against each other in a championship game in college where she’d high sticked one of my teammates bad enough to injure them and take them out of the game.Somehow the refs had missed the foul and Volkova got off scott-free.The penalty I got for shoving Volkova onto her ass in retribution was worth it.
We’d had a few run-ins like that over the years.Hockey was a physical game, but Volkova and I seemed to end up in more scuffles than most players.Some part of me enjoyed riling her up, watching her lose that icy mask of calm.Her expression rarely changed, but her eyes betrayed her when she was mad.What Volkova got out of our little battles, I didn’t know.Maybe she liked riling me up too.Maybe she was just a jerk.
Pushing off, I skated over to shake her hand.After all, I was supposed to be a professional, and the coach was very insistent on good sportsmanship for the team.
“Good game, Volkova.”
She shook my hand and I swear that I could feel the heat of her skin even though we were both wearing heavy gloves.She just stared at me for a long moment before pulling away from my hand like I’d stabbed her.
“Until next time,” she said, pulling away and skating off to join her team.
“What a bitch,” someone mumbled behind me.
I didn’t answer.I hated using that word about another woman, especially a fellow player, but I couldn’t deny that Volkova was not the friendliest player in the league.Or anywhere.
We all did a lot of trash talking, sure, but for the most part the players were all pretty collegial and supportive of each other, especially off the ice.Women’s sports still had a hard time being taken seriously, and we all worked together to improve the image of the league whenever we could.
After slipping on skate guards, I headed into the locker room.Most of the team was inside already, in various states of undress.There was no room for modesty in a locker room, and for those of who’d grown up playing sports, we didn’t think anything of getting naked in a room full of people.
I removed my skates and pants, then my jersey and pads, standing in just my underwear and the fitted shirt I wore underneath my uniform.
“Lindstrom.”
I looked up as my coach called my name.
“Yeah Coach?”
Irina Moldova was a hockey legend.Every person in her family, male and female, had been a hockey star in their playing days.When she moved into coaching, every franchise in the country wanted her, even some of the men’s teams.But she’d come to Seattle, where she’d helped the team go from perennial losers to annual playoff contenders.She was tough but fair, and everyone on the team adored her.
“Good news.You made the roster for the International Games.You’re going to Italy.”
I blinked.“Really?”
I had no idea I was in contention.
“You’re having a hell of a season Lindstrom, so of course the U.S.committee was interested in you.You’re the only one from the team who got picked.Congratulations.Make us proud, but for the love of God, don’t get hurt over there.We need you to come back here in one piece if we’re going to make it to the playoffs.”
“Yes ma’am.Who else is on the team?”
For some reason, my mind went to Volkova.Was she coming to Italy too?If so, I’d have to give her a wide berth.I didn’t want her animosity ruining my first trip to Europe.She was an American but played in Vancouver, so if she was going, the Canadians would probably pick her up.
The coach shrugged.“You should have an email with all the details, including the roster and schedules.Be sure to forward that to me so I can accommodate your absence.”
