“That was quite the welcome,” Jack says from behind me.
“Don’t want to scare them off just yet.”
Grabbing my skates I left in here earlier, I lace them up and follow everyone out to the ice.
It’s a smooth sheet of glass, a beacon calling me home. Breathing in the cold air, I know this was the right decision to move here.
After retiring a year and a half ago, I didn’t have much of a plan. Throw in a divorce, and when the Lightning came calling, I jumped at the chance to coach a team.
Pushing off, I do a lap around the ice.
Scraping and scratching hits my ears as I sink into my skates. Muscle memory comes back, carrying me around the boards, as I get my feet under me.
Grabbing the whistle around my neck, I bring the metal to my lips. The sound echoes in the empty arena. It stops everyone where they are.
“Alright. I want to start with a little five-on-five. See where we are. We’ll sub in, so let’s split up and get going.”
Jack and Alfie help to divide the teams as those not playing take their spots on the bench. Alfie drops the puck and the game starts.
There’s talent for sure, but with that skill comes egos. One guy hogs the puck, allowing for an open man—and a potential shot on goal—to be missed.
Blowing the whistle, I change out the lines. It’s more of the same. Selfishness seems to be the word of the day. A few guys manage to get some good passes in, but that’s where it ends.
I wince, grabbing the whistle to change out the lines again. Damn. This is worse than I thought. Missed passes. Sloppy skating. Easy goals let in.
I’ve got my work cut out for me.
“Did you know they were this bad?” Jack whispers out of the side of his mouth.
“You don’t clean house because they’re good,” I fire back.
After a few more changes, I blow my whistle and bring everyone to center ice. “That was a good first practice.”
“We were crap, Coach,” one of the guys shouts from the back.
Murmurs echo around me as they all agree.
“That’s the last time I want to hear that.” I look at each man standing in front of me. Some look dejected. Others tired. “I see strengths in each one of you. The lines you played on before might not be the same ones you’ll play on this year. Jack, Alfie, and I are going to be mixing things up. We’re going to run some drills, hit the weight room, and then hit the ground running tomorrow.”
That earns me a few nods. I blow my whistle. “Good, now, suicides. Let’s go.”
I know we’ve got a long road ahead of us, but it’s something I’m ready for.
“You’re good at being diplomatic,” Alfie tells me as we head back toward the offices once practice is over.
“Considering I was part of the worst team in the league for years, hearing ‘you suck’ isn’t the way to earn their trust.”
My time in Nashville wasn’t great. I loved playing, but damn, we sucked. We were at the bottom of the league every season. My coach? He didn’t care. It was a paycheck to him.
Once they got a new coach, things have been turning around for them.
I’m hoping the same can be said about the Lightning. I don’t want to be kicked out after this season. Not after I’ve had such awarmwelcome to London.
I shouldn’t be thinking about Olivia again.
The very last place I expected to run into her was here. At my new job. But damn if I don’t consider myself lucky.
The minx fled my apartment before I could get her number. Knowing now exactly where I can find her?
