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The men chuckled.

“Acupuncture has its benefits,” Dr. Driver said. “A therapist will set your mind right, leaving you to concentrate on your rehab. While acupuncture treats your nervous system, helping to release beneficial healing biochemicals into the spinal cord, muscles, and brain.”

I nodded, already hearing the same from my father. “I know coaching will be different, and I won’t always need to be on the ice, however I’d like to get to a point in my recovery where I can be out there with the guys.”

A quick knock came at the door before Coach Drake—Alexander Drake, former Pittsburgh Hawks forward, stepped into the space.

He wore a pair of team sweats, trainers and a Mountaineer pullover.

Fully acclimated into the upper management for the team.

He even had the corporate haircut, including the side part, while my hair…

Well, shaggy would always be my thing. “The man of the hour has arrived. Thierry Thomas.” I wasn’t sure if I was picking up his snideness or if the man was genuinely happy to have me there.

“How’s the knee? Still giving you problems? ”

If I sat too long? Stiff. Once I moved around, great.

Though if I did too much during the day, it would ache like a sore tooth.

I didn’t think it had anything to do with the injury, per se.

More so with the fact I was inactive. I was used to working out, running, and skating every day for almost thirty years.

After the injury, everything changed or came to a halt completely.

My new regimen used different muscle groups made to accommodate the new prosthetic in my leg.

“You know...” I shrugged. “Aches here and there. Tightness. Common issues. Mostly because I’m not doing anything but sitting.

Guess knee replacement does that to a person.

So, I go to PT, get a rubdown, and for the rest of the day, I elevate, alternating between ice and heat therapy. The usual.”

Mr. James and Dr. Driver exchanged looks, like neither of them could believe I had done little more than what I’d explained. Again, I wasn’t holding myself back. This was all Dr. Jay, and him wanting me to have a quality life and keep my leg. I agreed with him. Losing the leg would have been worse.

“Well, if you’d like we could reevaluate your PT and add in exercises to get you where you want to be. We’ll even loop Dr. Jay into the conversation,” Dr. Driver stated.

“That sounds great,” I replied, then glanced at Coach Drake.

“For what it’s worth, I don’t want your job.

I’d have rather die on that ice than been forced into medical retirement like I have.

I gave my life to hockey. Up until now, the game has been good to me too.

I hope you’ll give me the chance to prove just how much I want to be here. ”

Alexander stared at me. “You’re talking to me like you’re still a player and not a coach.”

I shrugged. “In some ways, I haven’t shed the persona. What I can say is this; I’ll help you build the best damn team possible and take you to a championship. I know how to get there and what it takes.”

“Are you sure you’re ready for this part, though?” He exhaled. “You’re one of the best damn players we had in the NHL. You won’t be able to do this for the guys. They’ll have to do it for you.”

“Then I’ll be their rutter, and they’ll be my legs,” I answered. “Together we’ll be unstoppable.”

I left the training room after our meeting and went straight to the locker room.

Most of the guys were already on the ice while some lingered.

None of them said a word to me as I sat down at the open locker where my name was taped.

I didn’t pay them any mind as I changed into a pair of trainer sweats and a coach hoodie with my name on it.

Sure as hell was different than a sweater and skates.

Once I was ready, I met back up with Coach to go over a few things while the guys warmed up before practice.

“Where are my manners,” I said, holding my hand out to Coach Drake. He stared at me for a moment then shook my hand. “Thank you for taking a chance on me. I’m sure there were other more qualified men for this job.”

“There were a few,” he admitted. “However, you’ve got that dog in you.

There’s a hunger clawing at your belly they didn’t have.

That’s what I want. The technical stuff, the things you can’t learn from being on the ice will come later.

Right now, we need a defense that holds the line.

That’s something you can do. All day. Every day. ”

Pride welled within me. I spent years at home and abroad honing my skills, learning to be the best defender I could be. If I could impart that wisdom on the guys, so be it. “Thank you.”

“As for the knee,” he added, “Don’t push too hard. My dad had one last year. Told physical therapy they were a bunch of quacks, and he was going to do the work on his own. Two weeks after the surgery he was back in the hospital, needing to undergo the same surgery again.”

I chuckled. “Not a worry here. It was this or lose the leg. I chose this. I’m not fucking that up.”

“See that you don’t.”