CHAPTER 1
JAMIE
LIKE A DINGUS
Daniel: Welcome back to the Madison Muskies Broadcast, I’m Daniel Cummings, joined by Tabitha Dunkirk. Heading into the third period, the Muskies trail Vegas 3 - 1, after a late period goal from Vegas D-man, Nilsson, slipped over the pad of Muskies goaltender, Berglund. Tabitha, what do you think of the Muskies play so far?
Tabitha: What stands out to me through the first two periods of play is the lack of high-danger chances generated by the Muskies offense. The team only has 10 shots on goal through the first two periods, with more breakdowns in the neutral zone than we’re accustomed to seeing with this group. It’s in games like this that I’m sure the Muskies are missing having the Sharpe Shooter on their bench.
Daniel: Oh boy, are they ever. Since Aaron Sharpe’s retirement at the end of last season, the Muskies have struggled to find an offensive player who can single-handedly score those clutch goals and create the high-danger opportunities. The first line is predictably strong and generating, but the Muskies need more offensive production from their second and third lines.
Tabitha: Three may have slipped past him this game, but Berglund has been good in net for the Muskies. No one can deny the power and skill of the Muskies D-core, led by their top pairing, Jackson and Roberts.Like you just said, it’s the offense that is under fire right now, especially the new captain, Jamie Sullivan.
Daniel: Sullivan has never been a forty-goal per season player in the years since the Muskies drafted him. He provides solid offense, has a great two-way game, strong on the forecheck, obviously well-liked in the locker room, but do you think the coaching staff is looking to him for more this year?
Tabitha: Given the hole left in the wake of Sharpe’s retirement, I would imagine they are. Unless one of the rookies steps up, I think all eyes are on Sullivan.
Daniel: Should I pull out my old skates and get out there? I’m not sure if I’ve told you before, but–
Tabitha: You had a hat trick in the Quebec Peewee tournament, Dan. You only remind us every week.
Daniel: (chuckles) Well, I’m just saying, if the Muskies need offense badly enough, I’m happy to throw my hat in the ring.
Tabitha: Let’s see if Sullivan can get the team going out there.
Daniel: I'm Daniel Cummings for the Muskies–don't go anywhere, we'll be back for the start of the third period after this.
“Let’s go, boys! Matty, you’ve got the space! There it is. There it is! You’ve got Emmy down below–”Shit. “Come on, let’s get it back!”
Jamie Sullivan grabbed a towel, and wiped it across the inside of his visor. Tossing it aside, he nudged his thigh against his Finnish teammate and linemate, Esa Couri, raising his voice so he could be heard above the roar of the crowd at Culver’s Arena. “Once we’re in our zone, I’ll try to get position in front of the net. Get a screen for you.”
Esa didn’t take his eyes from the game, but nodded in understanding. “Got it, Cap,” he said, his words heavily accented. “We need to score.”
Yep. They needed to fucking score.
“Sully, your line’s up,” their assistant coach Sam Miller called out from behind the bench.
Get your ass out there and get your team a point, Jamie.Do whatever it takes, but there better be another one on the scoreboard by the next time you’re going back to the bench.
Jamie swung over the boards, pushing out into the neutral zone with Esa and their other winger, Cooper Bell. Their top D-pair was still on the ice. Mitch Jackson held the puck behind their net, waiting for them to complete their change, and Cody Roberts hung out on the left wing in anticipation of Vegas’ brutal forecheck.
The shift started well. Textbook. Just like they’d done it a thousand times in practice.
Mitchy passed to Cody. Cody pushed up the ice, hitting Jamie’s stick perfectly as he cut across the neutral zone. Jamie managed to get past Vegas’ forward before dropping the puck back to Mitchy, who’d trailed him down the ice.
Jamie skated hard, muscling his way into position in front of the goalie, using his body and stick to push against Tanner Dorren, Vegas’ veteran defenseman who was infamous in the league for his dirty play and tendency to run his mouth. At 6’ 2”, Jamie wasn’t the tallest guy on the ice, but he made up for it with a thick body he didn’t hesitate to throw around for the sake of his team.
“Looking fucking slow out here, Sully,” Dorren grunted, lifting their locked sticks before shimmying to get in position. “Got the C and let it all go, eh?”
Jamie tried to ignore him, popping out to the corner. Cooper fed him the puck. Jamie swung around and surveyed the ice. Vegas had them fully coveredShit. Nothing.
Dorren advanced on him, his stick extended to cut off any possible passing lane. He needed to do something.
Do it, Sully. Fucking do something.
He dug his back skate into the ice and charged forward, doing his best to guard the puck. He managed to catch Dorren off guard.With his vision narrowing on the net, Jamie willed his legs to pick up speed.
Three Vegas guys dropped down to cover him. The window of space Jamie had previously seen was gone, and now he was smothered. He tried to use his body to hold onto the puck, tried to find a teammate to dish it to, butfuck.
