Page 24

Max

After the weird drama with Jason, things went back to normal. We played the Terrors at home and kicked their ass the first game, but they beat us the second, but they were both good games. We were evenly matched and without all the bullshit that some teams liked to throw at us it was a lot of fun. Even if I didn’t get to play as much as I would have liked.

“Hey, are you ready for tonight?” Jarin asked as he plopped down on the bench next to me.

“Yeah, I mean Vanel will be starting.”

“Weren’t we supposed to get another goalie?” he asked and opened his locker.

“Yeah, I guess the one Coach talked to can’t start for another week or two.”

“Well, hopefully we don’t need him before then. Watch yourself out there tonight. This team are assholes.”

“I will, thanks,” I said and finished pulling on my gear. All of us went on the ice to warm up as a few spectators trickled in. Ruben was already in the box along with Coach and a few other staff. The Stockton Storm slowly entered on the other side. I didn’t know any of their players and as I watched them warm up, they kept to themselves and focused on getting ready to play.

Vanel and I moved into the corner by the net and stretched before practicing in the net. “What have you heard about these guys?” he asked me.

“That they’re assholes. I can’t imagine they’re much worse than a few we’ve already played,” I said and blocked a shot he slapped at me.

“Watch the left wing,” he said but didn’t elaborate, and after a little more warmup everyone went back into the locker room.

“Listen up, everyone,” Coach said. “This is our first time playing the Storm, but I’m sure some of you have heard rumors about them targeting goalies. They’ve injured more goalies this year than any other player. We’re not sure why they’re doing that but please watch out for Vanel and Hofstedder. We can’t afford to lose one of them to injury. We are getting a third alternate, but he can’t start for a few weeks. Guys, I really need you to watch out for yourselves. I know they look very calm and professional out there, but don’t let them fool you,” he directed right at the two of us.

Ruben met my eyes, and he didn’t need to say a word to let me know he was worried, and he wanted me to be careful. I gave him a slight nod before putting my attention back on Coach.

“Vanel, you’ll be starting.” He went through the rest of the roster and afterward we all walked back onto the ice to warm up one last time before the game started. The horn sounded and we lined up at center court for the national anthem and a few announcements before everyone left the ice except the players and the refs. The puck dropped between Randall and the Storm’s big center and everything changed.

Drake, their center, pushed in on Randall and slapped the puck into their control. Their left wing, Perry, drove it behind their goal and passed to Vonn, their big blocker, who passed it back to Drake. He sprinted to our goal as Vanel watched every move and shadowed their movements. At the last-minute Drake passed to Vonn, who power slapped the puck in the air at Vanel’s head. It made contact with a loud crack, but he stayed in the game and managed to fight them off before a penalty was called and play was moved to the other side.

“Do you think Vanel is okay?” I asked Griffin who was currently off the ice. We both watched as he shook his head and recentered himself.

“I think he got his bell rung,” Griffin said just before we switched, and he was back on the ice.

The other team was aggressive and played very closely, giving none of our players a break and turning the pressure up. When the first period ended neither team had scored, and tensions were high when Coach spoke to us all. “Guys, just keep it together. I know they’re trying to push you but keep it under control. We don’t need any injuries. Hofstedder, you’re in this period.” I nodded as his eyes met mine before I looked over at Vanel who was being checked out by Ruben. Other than the hit to the helmet he hadn’t been injured, but there was a lot to deal with from the Storm.

We all lined up to go back out onto the ice, and I took position in the net. Once again, the action was fast, I focused on the puck and where the play was and when they came my way, I blocked every attempt they made. But they didn’t relent.

“Come on, rookie, you must be tired by now,” Drake taunted as he passed the puck to Vonn. I was big, but he was much bigger and skated full speed at me before veering to the right and going behind the net. Randall and Griffin helped block for me while I shoved my body into the net and gave them a very small target to score.

Drake had the puck again and slapped it hard but was blocked by Griffin who skated past the net and behind it. Vonn pulled back to hit the puck only he wasn’t facing the net, he was shooting for the players’ box. Most of the box was protected by plexiglass except for the spaces left clear for us to enter and exit the ice. The puck was airborne and when I looked toward the box, I knew what was going to happen but there was nothing I could do to stop it.

There in the space that was uncovered stood Ruben. He was speaking to Wright and not paying attention to the game. The puck sailed through the air and hit him hard in the side of the head. He crumpled immediately and landed half in the booth and half on the ice. I was skating over to him before I realized I’d moved. Some of the players from the Storm tried to stop me but I shoved them out of the way with my stick. No one was going to stop me from getting to Ruben.

I slid to a stop and threw my gloves off. Brian was already by him, assessing him for injury but he still hadn’t come to. With shaking hands, I reached for him. “Don’t move him. I need to make sure he doesn’t have a neck injury,” Brian said and continued to poke and prod. Ruben had one arm under him while the other was out to the side.

“Brian, he needs an ambulance,” I said and knelt next to him. Blood was running down his face and beginning to pool on the ice. When I looked up at Brian his eyes were wide with fear and worry. “Call the medics.” Brian jumped over him and Coach immediately signaled we needed help.

Two paramedics hurried from the side of the rink to where we were. “He took a puck to the side of the head,” someone told them while I couldn’t take my eyes away from Ruben.

“I need you to back up,” one of the paramedics said to me. But I couldn’t force myself to move.

“He wasn’t even on the ice, they hit him while he was standing there,” I said and looked over at the other team. None of them were concerned or even bothered to act like they were worried. They all looked annoyed that the clock had been stopped for something their fucking player did.

“We’re going to need to take him in,” the other paramedic said and hurried over to where they’d come in and retrieved a gurney. They placed a bandage on his wound to stop the bleeding before securing his head and neck in a brace and slowly tipping him onto the gurney without jostling his neck. It was hard as hell to stand there and watch them take him away. But I knew he was in good hands. I glanced to my right to see Vonn staring at me with a smirk, and I knew then it was no accident. They’d targeted Ruben.