Bryan, one of our second-line players, intercepts a pass by an Everwood defender and takes the puck to their goal. I zero my attention in on the black disk as the blade of Bryan’s stick sends it arcing through the air … where Lawless snags it with a glove save.
My teammates on the bench grumble and curse … but something clicks in my head.
Every minute I’ve spent on the bench during this game, I’ve been focusing on our players. I’m the captain, so I need to pay attention and keep my eyes peeled for any constructive criticism I can offer. My teammates rely on me to be more than just another pair of skates on the ice, but a mentor.
But right now, maybe my team needs my attention elsewhere.
We had no footage of Kenny Lawless at the college level to study as we prepared for this game. Maybe we’re missing something. Maybe he’s so good out there because we haven’t been able to pick up on any of his tells.
Maybe if I focus on him instead of my players, I’ll be able to spot them. And then we’ll be able to exploit them.
I stop paying attention to my guys. I don’t focus on their skating, or their stick handling, or their passing. All my attention is squarely on the enemy goalie.
My eyes narrow as I lock in, reading every movement of his body. Luckily, the Everwood defense isn’t getting any better, and I have plenty of opportunities to examine how he responds to a couple of shots.
Then I see it. A tell.
Most goalies start with clear tells, and they have to work hard to smooth them over. Lawless might have excellent reflexes, but he hasn’t mastered his craft to that level yet.
I call out to Coach and ask him to put me back in the game, even though my legs are still burning. I need to test out my hypothesis for myself. If I’m right, we could break open this game and quickly recover from our 0-1 deficit.
That’s exactly what happens. I put my theory into practice and quickly score, faking out Lawless and sending the puck into the back of his net for the first time all game. After sharing my info with the team, we end up winning the game 4-1.
In the locker room, a pair of arms wrap around me from behind and lift me off my feet, spinning me around.
“Hell yeah, Captain!” Carter’s voice booms amidst the general chatter of celebration. “You’re a fucking hockey genius!”
Sebastian pats me on the back when Carter sets me down. “I knew you were the right man to take over the captain’s role this year.”
Sebastian’s a year older than me, and therefore a year more experienced. Everyone assumed he’d be taking up the mantle of captain after our longtime team leader, Lane Larsen, graduated last year. But, for some reason, he spoke with Coach and requested that I be named captain instead.
Maybe he didn’t want the extra responsibility in his senior year. Or maybe he saw something in me that I still don’t quite see in myself.
“Maybethat’swhy you’re a virgin, Jamie,” Felix joins in. “All your skill points with women got transferred to hockey IQ. Like a video game.”
Veikko walks up to us with a towel wrapped around his waist. “I have been trying to improve my skills in joking around—bantering, as they call it in English. But I feel I should not join in if the topic is making fun of Jamie’s sexual problems.”
I roll my eyes while I flip off Felix. “I don’t havesexual problems, Veikko. I’m just not into casual hookups.”
Veikko nods thoughtfully. “Perhaps I should have called it your … conspicuous celibacy, then.”
Laughter erupts all around me.
I sigh. “I need a shower.”
As I’m walking away after stripping off my pads, I can hear Felix say to Veikko, “Wait, you’ve beentryingto joke around lately?”
“Is it not noticeable?” Veikko’s monotone response brings a grin to my face before I drown out the conversation by turning on the spray of hot water.
I’m settling into my role as team captain. We’re having a good season after a rocky start. I’m keeping my grades up. Overall, Junior year is going well.
I’d just love to put the cherry on top of it by having my first girlfriend.
There’s only one candidate, and her face flashes in my mind when I close my eyes to lean into the water.
4
JAMIE
