This? This is not that.
The entire place is packed to the brim with people as boos ring out to signal our arrival. Signs are held aloft for the various members of the home team. The Eagles logo is splashed across every surface in black, yellow, and white.
“Damn.”
“Not quite the NHL?” Jack asks as we take our positions on the bench.
“More people than I thought.”
“Really?” he asks, looking thoroughly confused.
I nod. “Liv made it sound like there wouldn’t be anyone here.”
“Edinburgh brings in a pretty large crowd. But there’s a good number of Lightning fans here for an away game. They believe we are going to turn this team around.”
“Damn right we are.”
Because I want nothing more than to prove to Liv thatwe can do it. That we can be a team like Edinburgh and bring the people in.
The music changes and the crowd gets louder. In the small space, it causes my ears to ring. Edinburgh takes the ice to raucous applause and cheers.
Before the game starts, the UK’s national anthem plays throughout the arena. That’s something that is definitely going to take some getting used to.
Before I know it, the puck drops and the game starts.
Within seconds, it’s easy to see why Edinburgh is one of the top teams in the league year in and year out.
Even with the progress we’ve been making in practice, we can’t keep up. In what seems like no time at all, the Eagles get an easy pass and are flying toward our end of the ice. Snapping my eyes to Simmons, he tightens up. I can see him reading the winger but before we can make a move, the puck is flying over his shoulder, lighting the lamp.
Fuck.
I glance at the scoreboard—they scored in under two minutes. It could be a very long night if it continues like this.
When play resumes, our guys are on top of them, but it’s hard to steal the puck and get into their zone.
McCord intercepts an easy pass and takes off on a breakaway, but their goalie is primed and ready. He snatches the puck out of thin air before it can cross the goal line.
“That’s okay, boys. That was a great play. Let’s draw up more plays like that—good defense and we’ll capitalize on it.”
I walk up and down the bench encouraging everyone as the lines change. We have a few more missed passes, andanother easy goal slips in, but the guys are skating better together.
Before the first period ends, their hard work finally pays off. With a slick defensive move, Gavin shoots the puck up to McCord. With Jessup, another winger, skating with him, the two of them are able to work together to score.
“Hell, yeah!” I pump my arm as the guys all stand to bang their sticks on the boards. “Great job!”
When the horn sounds, I’m happy as the guys file into the locker room.
“Alright, men. That was a great first period. You made the necessary changes on the ice to clean up play. They might have gotten off to a fast start, but Simmons?” I look around for our goalie. “Simmons. You shook off that first goal and are looking sharp. Keep it up.”
Jack and Alfie talk with their respective lines before intermission ends. When we’re walking out toward a clean sheet of ice, confidence is oozing from the team.
“They’re doubling up on McCord when he’s out there,” I point out to Jack when play resumes.
Jack nods. “Let’s see if we can keep them busy enough to get the puck into the net.”
“Let’s tie this baby up.”
It’s as if putting it out there makes it happen exactly like I drew it up. McCord gets double-teamed, giving our other winger the chance to break into their zone. Their defenders realize too late he doesn’t have the puck and Jessup slides it into the goal with ease.
