This is strictly a fan fiction based around the NHL and ice hockey in general. It's got nothing to do with the Mighty Ducks movies.
Ps - to anyone wondering about my 'Streets of Dublin' story I'm still working on it! Not to worry!
'That Girl'
By: Victoria Liu-Pearson
All Rights Reserved
Chapter 1
Coach Michael Seymour anxiously glanced at the game clock; 4:08 to go in the game and his team the Auckland Steamrollers trailed their opponents, the Kansas Bay Lightning by one goal.
'Come on, guys we can do it. One goal that is all we need,' he said to his players at the start of their 30 second timeout.
'But how? We've tried everything their defence is just too good,' Caleb Thomas said.
'There is always a way, Caleb you just have to think outside the box a little that is all.' Michael said he grabbed the whiteboard marker and made quick sketchy drawings.
'Is that what I think it is coach?' Ashley Pearson, the 13year-old black-haired girl asked he looked at her a smile on his face and nodded his head.
'Yes, it is and you know this move better than anyone here Ashley. You've rehearsed it enough to know the move off by heart,' he said she shook her head.
'Yes you can.' He urged.
'But—but that is all in practice I've never tried it in a live game,' she protested.
'Well now is a good time as any to give it a go,' 'So with the defensive face-off in our end that's your chance to start the rush. Remember you have to get the opposition thinking you are aiming to dump the puck deep into their end rather then set up for the back door rush,' he added.
'Ok,' she answered still not quite convinced this would work in the time they had left.
'Good.'
Michael then turned his attention to her two line mates; James Sattler and Angelo Cotton.
'It is your job, the both of you to keep the opponents away from her and clear the path. This won't work if you don't do your jobs right,' he said the two boys nodded.
'We got it covered coach,' James answered. Just then the siren went off indicating the timeout was over.
'All right guys go get them and send this game into overtime,' Michael said; the rest of his players sat back down on the bench while Ashley, James, Angelo and the two defensemen David Gidley and Markus Neely skated down the ice to their end of the zone. Goaltender Andrew Prince gave them an acknowledging nod when they arrived.
'So what's the plan?' he asked Markus.
'Just wait and watch,' Markus replied. Their opponents were now making their way over for the face-off. The guy that was taking the face off against Ashley gave her a little sneer.
'This is just too easy,' he said with a laugh she skated up to the spot and moved into position he did the same as the referee came between them with puck in-hand.
'No tricks,' the referee said and both sticks were poised in position with eyes focused on the puck. The referee held it for a few more seconds then dropped it, it hit the ice and the sticks swiped, the puck went behind Ashley and David took control of it and dashed behind the net while James and Angelo skated to centre ice drawing the oppositions' defence with them and Markus took the space inside their blue line. Ashley skated towards where David stood behind the net he moved out and passed the puck back to her as the Lightings' left winger came up, though she was past him before he could try and stop her and she zipped by him passed the puck over to James. He just narrowly avoided a hard check by the right winger, then headed across centre ice faking a big wind up that pushed the defence back. That is when he slid the puck back between his legs just as Ashley came from behind to take control and skipped into the oppositions' zone. She went around the defence again right across in front of the goaltender, but instead of going for the shot she pushed the puck behind the net. The defenseman went to get it but she escaped another check and chased the puck and just managed to poke it out of the defenseman's reach. He swung around to retrieve the puck again but using her pace she was past and came around the net, the goaltender was moving side to side but too late she saw the space and flicked the puck into the net on her backhand. The crowd was up and cheering and her line mates were ecstatic the bench went crazy. Ashley too was happy but for a few seconds there it all felt surreal to her, practice was one thing but for this move to come off first time she ever tried it, it felt amazing, they skated back to the bench and joined in the celebrations.
'All right, all right clam down we still got a lot of work to do,' Michael said he grabbed his board again and checked the clock 2:24, there was still time to put on a play to win forget the over time.
'Ok Stephen we're going with your line next,' he said and began drawing out his new plan.
The puck was dropped at centre ice, Stephen and his line mates worked straight into the oppositions' zone to set up, but the Lightning's right winger was able to get the puck out of the zone forcing a retreat accept he had full control and raced down the ice, it was one on one with the goaltender. He faked one way and wet top shelf it was in.
'Crap.' Michael frowned, there was less than a minute to go in the game they were set to lose.
'It's all right everyone you did well just wasn't meant to be. We still have another game in three days to prepare for now,' he added as the clock wound down and the final siren sounded. Slowly the crowd began to disperse and the two teams left the ice.
'Excuse me,'
Michael turned around to look behind him, and saw two men dressed in casual clothing stood in the vacant seats behind the players' bench separated by the glass pane.
'Yes can I help you gentlemen?' Michael asked.
'We'd like a word with you in regards to a couple of your players,' one of the men said.
'Yes of course,' Michael answered.
'I'm Scott Preston and this is Oliver Riley,' Scott said.
'Michael Seymour,' Michael said.
'Pleasure to meet you and now it's down to business. We are here as acting scouts to several NHL clubs' Oliver said he pulled out a notepad from his pocket and flipped it open.
'The players we have in question are James Sattler, Caleb Thomas and Ashley Pearson,' he remarked, Michael was nodding his head before it registered.
'Wait...What? Did you say Ashley?' he asked.
'Yes.'
'Wh...Why?' Michael asked.
'We've been very impressed with what we have seen of her in these last three weeks. That kid's got some talent and more even beyond her years,' Oliver answered.
'Yes, yes I'm aware of that but why would any professional team be looking into her? As you guys already mentioned you work with several NHL clubs,' Michael said.
'We never said anything about getting these players into the big time we are merely responsible for finding the talent and alerting the clubs of any potential. The rest is up to the clubs. In the case of your young female star the potential she has may see her getting a glimpse with the woman's' hockey association,' Oliver replied.
'Right, right I see. Well what do you want to know?' he asked.
'At the moment we'd just like you to know we have highlighted those three in particular. One of the club's we represent, the Detroit Red Wings are due to come by and watch the next round of games,' Scott explained Michael nodded, he was pleased by this though he was pretty certain his team wasn't the only one being scouted.
'Well thanks I won't say a word to any of the players as I know it will become a distraction to them.' He added Scott and Oliver nodded and extended their arms over the tall glass pane to shake his hand and they took quickly left the rink. Michael quickly left the bench and entered the locker room as his team finished getting changed and had their equipment packed away.
'Right team before we get of here I just want to remind you of our next game back here on Wednesday against the local team the Tampa Bay Bulls. You have the rest of today off and tomorrow, but I want everyone on deck for practice first thing Monday morning.' He said with a hard glare around the room.
'Is that clear?'
'Yes sir!' came the autonomous reply.
'Good now go on, scram and have fun just not too much!' Michael called as the excited chatter of the kids filed out of the room and out of the rink. There in the parking lot was the team bus and much to the surprise of the players they also found a small group of kids their own age and younger waiting nearby.
'What's this?' Caleb asked moving forward, three of the young kids about 5-years old slowly came up to him.
'Can we get an autograph?' one of the boys' asked. Caleb was so taken back he had no answer for several seconds but James quickly came up from behind him and gave him a nudge.
'Oh, right ok sure.' He replied and happily signed his name. Then surely but ever so slowly the rest of the payers were asked to do the same as well as photographs. When it was all over the youngsters ran off back to their families and the players boarded the bus.
'That was heaps cool!' Renee Marsh said.
'Yeah it was great! That was just little kids imagine if we got some really hot male fans too!' Danielle Hurst gushed, behind them the guys all groaned and the two girls turned around to glare at them.
'What, as if you all wouldn't hope for female fans too.' Danielle answered.
'Well we don't wish we already have,' James smirked back Danielle rolled her blue eyes.
'Whatever!' She said then she and Renee sat back in their seats. The bus driver closed the doors started up the engine and turned the bus around and drove towards the exit.
It had only taken half an hour for the team to arrive back at their hotel and the players happily disembarked grabbed their bags and headed inside.
'So what is everyone's plan?' Markus asked all eyes turned on Troy Parker. He was the party animal of the group being the oldest in the team at 17years old. A big bright smiled appeared on his lips.
'It is a good thing you asked Mark my man because I have just the perfect plan.' He said.
'First of all get refreshed and come back down here and meet me by the pool and I will show you,' he added, everyone whispered excitedly to each other they couldn't wait to find out the surprise he'd planned. Ashley just muttered under her breath and walked to the elevator with Danielle and Renee right behind. Their hyperactive chatter only got on her nerves more.
'Ashley, you going to come to the surprise?' Renee asked.
'No.'
'Aw and why not?' Danielle asked. Ashley just sighed and shook her head.
'I just have a lot of work to do. And besides I'm not interested in some stupid party Troy organises,' she replied the two girls huffed that was in their opinion a sad excuse.
'So anti-social,' Renee mumbled but still within ear shot Ashley pretended not to hear and waited for the lift to stop off on the 7th floor. Once it did they got out and headed to their rooms as more lift stoppages were heard and their team mates filed out of the lift laughing and making one hell of a noise. Ashley quickly got into her room and closed the door left her bags there and collapsed onto the soft double bed. She was purely exhausted after today's game and though it resulted in a loss she was glad it didn't go to overtime. Their three previous games had gone into overtimes and they'd played those within two days of each other and it had slowly taken its toll especially for her. She sat up after a few minutes and looked down at her bag all of the equipment needed cleaning but there would be time for that later. Next her gaze fell upon another bag that was situated next to her luggage. A small smile appeared on her lips she knew what she wanted to do right now, stood up grabbed the bag and pulled out the pair of in-line skates.
'No better time than now,' she said and sat back on the bed to pull the skates then picked up her hockey stick, and a spare plastic puck then patted her back pocket to ensure her room key and phone were there and stepped out. The hallway was bright but empty not a sole in sight. It was a tough task getting down the hallway in skates with the carpet causing friction but eventually she got to the end of the hallway to the lifts and pressed for it. The lift arrived and she got in and pressed the button for the basement car park. The coast was clear and she hit the ground fast. Skated around the parked cars, fired the plastic puck at the stone wall and generally had a bit of fun. She saw the exit, it was starting to get dark outside now with the late afternoon sun fading and evening began to take over. She headed out into the fading daylight and skated by people along the pathway around the front of the hotel. Taxi's honked their hors when she dashed in front of their space, several people shouted obscenities as she zoomed by. Most of them complained about the dangers of skating on the path, others over the stick afraid it would hit an innocent bystander but Ashley was in full control of it all and skated smoothly along the path she went by the shops. She came to a crossing and appropriately stopped and while waiting for the lights to change she saw just a few meters down the street on the other side of the road an old basketball court where a group of kids much older than her playing a game of in-line hockey. She was intrigued by their game having played it a lot of it a few years ago. The lights changed and she crossed the road and skated down the street to the court to observe. The game was quick and the boys were very skilled at it she definitely liked what she saw with their skills.
One of the players' with a curly brown hair stopped by the fence near Ashley while he caught his breath.
'Hey!' she called out. He turned around still slightly bent over.
'What do you want?' he asked.
'Can I play?' she asked he shook his head and laughed.
'Sorry girly but this game isn't for you. Go find a nicer game to play, oh like netball perhaps,' he laughed even harder and skated back his friends. Ashley was not impressed but also not surprised by his attitude. She had put up with that thinking from plenty of people ever since she took up playing ice hockey anyway so it was nothing new to her. Still it annoyed her that everyone assumed this game was just for the guys.
'Girly are you deaf? Go play some other game!' the guy called out; but Ashley wasn't intimidated by him so instead she moved to the side of the court up the side path and into the area and skated towards the guys, they came fourth and encircled her.
'You really shouldn't come into my territory unless I say so.' He said his tone now serious.
'Is that a threat?' she asked.
'Oh it's more than a threat little one.' He said.
'Yeah you better listen to him too,' one of his friends' added. Ashley shook her head and smiled.
'I have an idea. How about i play you,' she said pointing to the curly brown haired guy/
'One on one. And if you win then fine I'll go, but if I win you will let me play,' she said. The guys broke out laughing.
'Don't be stupid you wouldn't stand a chance,' he said.
'Ok so why not?' she challenged. He thought about it she seemed serious enough to consider playing with them and he would love nothing more than to show her whose boss.
'Fine but if I win then you'll be working for me.' He smirked and his friends all wolf-whistled and swapped high fives Ashley rolled her eyes.
'Fine by me we'll see who walks away with the victory.' She replied.
'Yes we sure will,' He agreed and they both moved to the centre of the court. One of the guys' came forwards with the ball, waited a few seconds and then dropped it. Ashley swiped first the ball went behind and she was onto it in a flash. But he was onto her quickly too trying to interfere, she spun around he was there so she went the other way again he stayed close and got her against the fence.
'Nobody messes with me,' he said and stole the ball and skated towards the rubbish bin used as a goal. Ashley was too quick for him and before he got a shot off she stole it back and went the other direction and easily flipped the ball into the other bin his friends went silent and the brown-haired guy was speechless. Ashley ever so casually wiped the end of her stick as she skated by him.
'You look shocked a girl can play your game.' She said.
'Just play.' He snarled getting back to position at centre.
By the time the lights around the court flicked on illuminating the court Ashley had taken the one-on-one game by a score of 8-5. He shook his head in complete dismay. He had never lost a one-on-one battle especially to a girl this was more than humiliating. Ashley skated over to him and put her own plastic puck down in front of his face.
'Maybe next time you think twice about under estimating me.' She said he glared back at her.
'Also I figured you might need the puck for a little practice,' she winked
'See you boys around!' She called and skated off back to the hotel.
