Chapter One : Seperation
Author's Note: Think as this fanfic as Heavyweights – Ducks version. Will explore issues regarding bullying, obesity and body image for Greg Goldberg, Russ Tyler and Dave Karp.
Rated T for Teen
June 1997
It was once again summer in Minnesota.
Hockey season was over for both the Eden Hall freshman and varsity teams. Once again, both freshman and varsity hockey teams had won the state championship for their school.
After the roller coaster ride the team had faced during their freshman year, no one on the team could have foreseen the changes the team would go through during their sophomore year.
Dave Karp had found his favorite spot to stretch out and relax under a large oak tree in Minnehaha Park. A warm breeze found its way between his toes as the sounds of children squealing nearby at the wading area interrupted Karp's thoughts.
Karp had seen it coming all along. 'Sometimes people who are closest to the situation are the last to see it', Karp figured.
The first separation had happened year ago when Tommy Duncan, Tammy Duncan, Terry Hall, Peter Mark and Dave Karp were not invited to the join the rest of the team in Los Angeles for the Junior Goodwill Games.
It was hard to hear at the time that you were not able to continue on in hockey with the rest of your teammates. Tommy took it the hardest. Tommy and Peter were simply not big enough to keep up with their team mates. Terry had injured his ankle sliding into home base during gym class. Tammy's heart was never with hockey to begin with. Last time Karp saw her she was still going to figure skating competitions and was doing quite well.
Karp was cut because he was fat.
When Bombay called him to let him know that he was not going to be on the team, he made up a myriad of reasons about why he was not going to be able to one the team. Tibbles had already picked five players to be on the team and he didn't want to insult him by not having them on the team. The endorsement people wanted kids from all over the US instead of just from Minnesota. Karp knew that Bombay was trying to shield him from what he already knew. Karp simply preferred pastries to pucks.
Tammy, Peter, Karp, Terry and Tommy were out and Luis, Dwayne, Julie, Dean, Ken and Russ were in. So while the majority of the team went on to play for USA in the Junior Goodwill Games; Tommy, Terry, Peter and Karp continued to play for District 5 for another three seasons. New players came and went but they were unable to re-create the magic of the 1992 Pee Wee Championship run.
After winning the gold medal for USA Hockey at the Junior Goodwill Games, Eden Hall Academy offered the team full scholarships to their prestigious private high school.
Jesse, upon his return from California, had gotten involved with a street gang. One night, Jesse was caught by the police possessing 3 grams of cocaine. Bombay was able to convince a judge that in lieu of juvenile detention and a record that Jesse would attend a reform school and drug addiction counselling.
Tommy and Tammy had managed to enroll in Lake Harriet as the school district lines were redrawn while Terry, Peter and Karp went to Patrick Henry.
Bombay had left the team for the greener pastures. He had impressed the Junior Goodwill Games committee so much during his tenure as head coach for USA Hockey that they named him Director of Player Personnel.
Upon Bombay's recommendation, Dean Buckley hired Ted Orion to replace him as head coach. Under the tutelage of Ted Orion, the team managed to win Eden Hall's first junior varsity state championship in 10 years.
The following season the team was split in two. During the summer, Coach Orion, Coach Wilson and Gordon Bombay had a meeting to discuss the JV roster. During their freshman year, they had managed to keep the core of the team together minus Adam Banks. With half of the varsity team graduating, it was no longer possible. Changes had to be made.
In order to keep the meeting objective and not have the personal feeling of both Orion and Bombay interfere with the decisions on which players would make the jump to varsity, Coach Wilson had reached out to a group of pro scouts and had each of the players potential evaluated.
They had separated the team in two. Adam Banks, Charlie Conway, Guy Germaine, Julie Gaffney, Dean Portman and Dwayne Robertson would play for varsity and Lester Averman, Connie Moreau, Greg Goldberg, Ken Wu, Russ Tyler, Luis Mendoza, Fulton Reed would play for the JV team.
Karp was sympathetic to Goldberg, Ken, Russ, Luis and Fulton. No one liked being told they are not good enough. He knew that from experience. The writing was on the wall. They would continue to play at Eden Hall as long as they wished but hockey would end for them there.
At the end of the season, there were more decisions to be made. Ken Wu's was possibly the easiest. With the Olympics in Nagano a year away, Ken Wu decided to try out for the US Olympic figure skating team.
Luis, now with Mindy graduating, left the team as well. At the end of the season, Luis was told that unless he learned how to stop, he would be on the JV team when he was a senior. Not wanting to be left behind, Luis decided to join the US Olympic speed skating team.
Fulton was approached by the coach Eden Hall's football team and decided that football held more of a future for him then hockey. There was even talk a college team in Illinois offering him a scholarship. Portman, although good enough to play hockey for the varsity decided to join the football team as well and the two of them together were unstoppable.
With Coach Wilson retiring the following year and Coach Orion taking over coaching the varsity team for the team's senior year, Coach Orion had arranged to send the varsity team to a hockey camp in Michigan. Scouts from junior hockey leagues in Canada were to be in attendance.
'Another separation to come', Karp figured.
Connie and Lester Averman were also invited with the understanding that they would be on the varsity team during their senior year.
That left only Russ Tyler and Greg Goldberg. The three of them decided to spend the summer together. He was going to meet them at the deli and then go to the movies.
Karp heard a loud crack and then felt a baseball land on his left knee. Karp immediately winced in pain and rubbed his calf.
"Hey you," a kid called from the ball diamond. "Throw it here, will ya?"
Karp picked up the ball and attempted to throw the ball back to the center fielder. The ball landed softly about 10 feet from where Karp was standing. A few of the players snickered at Karp. Karp tried again. This time he had lost his balance and fell over as he threw the ball. The entire baseball team burst out laughing at him.
"Nice try Tubby," one of the players yelled out.
Karp pushed himself up slowly. The ball had only gone another 10 feet. One of the kids ran towards the ball, picked it up and threw it as hard as he could. The ball landed right in the glove of the pitcher.
"Nice throw Nick," a girl called out.
Karp looked over to see who it was. It was Cathy McCormick. Karp was awestruck. Cathy was one of those beautiful girls that he'd ever seen.
Karp struggled to his feet. "Hi Cathy."
Cathy turned towards Karp. "Hi. I'm sorry, do I know you?"
Karp immediately started perspiring. "I'm…um.. Dave Karp."
Cathy stared at him. She had no idea who he was. Cathy was going to be the new head cheerleader at Eden hall now that Mindy had graduated. Everyone knew who Cathy was. Karp was a nobody and he knew it.
"I watch you at the games sometimes," Karp said too quickly. Cathy starred at him. Karp realized what he said. Karp didn't want her to think that he was some creeper. 'I mean, I see you at the rink…well, I'm not seeing you, I'm there to watch my friends play …not that your unattractive..umm.." Karp paused and cleared his thoughts. "I'll start over. I've seen you at one of the games. I'm friends with the hockey team."
Cathy gave him a smile. "Hi Dave. I'm here watching my younger brother play baseball. He's going to try out for the JV baseball team next year when he enters high school. I prefer hockey myself."
"I used to play for the ducks," Karp boasted.
Cathy didn't believe him. "You did?"
"Yeah," Karp responded enthusiastically. "Back in pee-wees."
"Why didn't you stay with the team," Cathy asked.
Karp didn't want to tell her that he was cut. "I decided to focus on school instead," Karp lied.
Cathy accepted Karp's explanation. Before she could say anything, Jason Duncan , Eden Hall's varsity quarterback ran up and joined them.
"Hey Babe," Jason said to Cathy. "Some of the guys are headed to Mall of America to see a movie. Want to come?"
"Which movie?" Cathy asked.
"Beavis and Butt-head Do American," Jason responded enthusiastically and then proceeded to give his best Beavis impression.
Cathy rolled her eyes. She didn't have anything else to do. "I guess. "
Jason finally noticed Karp was standing there. "Who's the toad?" Jason asked.
Karp butt in. "My name is Dave."
Jason was loomed over Karp. "I wasn't talking to you fatty."
Cathy had to interject now. "Leave him alone Jason. "
Jason glared at Karp intently. Karp immediately took the hint. He was no match for Jason.
"Bye Cathy," Karp said as he slowly backed away. As soon as he was a few feet away, Karp turned and started running.
"Run fatboy Run!" Jason called out.
Karp tripped and fell flat on his face. Jason howled with laugher. Karp picked himself up, and walked the rest of his way to Goldberg's deli where Russ and Goldberg would be there waiting for him.