Page 29 of Pucking the Team

Eduardo shot a glance to his right, passed the puck to Vadmir Arefyev, then performed a spin toward the center circle.

Arefyev passed the puck straight back to Eduardo who chased it forward several meters and then took a shot into the Devils’ net.

It went in, the net punching backward and the goal defender falling to his padded knees.

“Yes!” Gina leapt up. “Yes!”

Fiona sprang to her feet, and the two women high-fived.

The other players, in their box down by the ice, were going wild, punching the air and slapping each other on the shoulders.

“And Dubois has started the game off with an incredible shot, the Devils just didn’t see it coming, and there was nobody there.”

Gina nodded at Mike and held her hand up.

There was a flurry of activity in the players’ boxes. Arefyev came off, and Dylan took his place.

A lump caught in my throat. I was going to see all the guys in action. Perhaps I’d get some understanding of their passion for this sport that was so alien to me.

“And there’s been a few changes, fresh legs, the first of many,” the commentator announced. “Say hello to Dylan Sanders, one of the most expensive players in the entire NHL. He’s got to be the new golden boy of The Vipers.”

Dylan swung his attention my way. His cage was down over his face, but still I could feel his eyes on mine.

A small shiver went up my spine. The guy was sexy and alluring in a way I had never seen before in a man. There was nothing vain or humble about him, he was fierce and strong and now he was going to show me what he could do.

He was going to showeveryonewhat he could do.

The game started up again, fast, and almost straight away the puck seemed to be stuck in a corner. Sticks sliced and hooked and battled in a clatter for possession. Shoulders and elbows jostled amongst the shouts and grunts.

And then the puck appeared, racing down the right flank.

Dylan was chasing it, Eduardo close behind.

Ben and Theo were following, so were all the Devils.

Gina and Fiona were on their feet. A group of Viper fans to the right were shaking their banners and flags wildly as they shouted encouragement.

“And it didn’t take Sanders long to dominate this game. The guy might be big, but he’s a bullet on the ice and he’s…he’s set up…yes…”

Dylan had passed the puck to Theo to avoid having it stolen. Theo caught it, and in a smooth, practiced movement, he dodged a Devil and skidded it into the net.

Again the Vipers’ fans went crazy, jumping up and down.

“Yes.” Gina gave a thumbs-up sign to Mike. ‘We Will Rock You’ blasted out of the rink speakers.

Another jostle of players; Theo was brought off and replaced.

“Who is that?” I asked Fiona.

“Ah, that’s Brick, you’ve met him, right?”

I nodded. “Yes, I have.”

“He’s a nightmare for the opposition. The guy just doesn’t budge if he gets in their way.”

Within seconds, the game was in full flow again. The puck was getting knocked back and forth, zigzagging over the lines painted into the ice.

“Oh and it’s just got into the hands of McKenzie, the new hot shot of the Devils, and what’s he going to do with it? Can he make this a real chance? Make it count?” The excitement of the commentator was palpable. “And Reed can’t afford to leave an inch open in that net or The Vipers are going to find themselves in trouble. And he’s going for the shot…Ben Evans is there, his brother coming from another angle but…oh my goodness, he’s got it, it’s in, a dream goal for McKenzie.”