Prologue: Words of a newcomer
Christmas time was closing in, and it found the Ducks on the fourth place in the league, after a first half of the season that had been more or less acceptable, except for one big problem. The Ducks desperately needed a defenseman that could dominate the play, both offensively and defensively, and especially distribute the puck well on the powerplay.
At the end of the last training session before the students were given a break for the Christmas, coach Orion came in to the assembled team in the locker room.
"Team," he begun, looking at each of the players in turn. "When we all return after christmas, there will be a new player, a new student, joining the team."
"A new player?" Charlie, Fulton and Portman said, at the same time. "Who?"
Orion smiled, "He's called Stein Arne Olsen, and is from Norway," he replies.
"From Norway?" a few of the players exclaimed. "I didn't even know Norwegians knew how to play hockey," Dwayne said, before he added, "Al I've ever heard about Norway is skiers, and speed skaters.
"They had one payer playing for two seasons for Michigan State Univesity, in the middle of the eighties, my father used to say," said Adam, quietly.
"And they've had an NHLer before you lot was born, although he just played one game, got injured, went back to Norway, and died in a car accident," Orion said, before he continued. "Anyway, our new payer, who will join us next scheduled practice, is a defenseman of just that kind we need. He's got good passing skils, good with the puck, and has a great shot." He paused, "In 25 games for his team in the Norwegian junior league, he's gotten 15 goals and 20 assists."
"Wow!" the players said, aside from Futon, that asked, "I suppose he's one of those players that needs constant watching, then, so that he isn't finished off in just one hit?"
Orion shrugged, "I don't know about that," he admitted, before he said, "But we wi let him have his chance with us, understood?"
"Yes coach," the team said in unison.
"Good, have a merry christmas now," the coach said.
Christmas time was closing in, and it found the Ducks on the fourth place in the league, after a first half of the season that had been more or less acceptable, except for one big problem. The Ducks desperately needed a defenseman that could dominate the play, both offensively and defensively, and especially distribute the puck well on the powerplay.
At the end of the last training session before the students were given a break for the Christmas, coach Orion came in to the assembled team in the locker room.
"Team," he begun, looking at each of the players in turn. "When we all return after christmas, there will be a new player, a new student, joining the team."
"A new player?" Charlie, Fulton and Portman said, at the same time. "Who?"
Orion smiled, "He's called Stein Arne Olsen, and is from Norway," he replies.
"From Norway?" a few of the players exclaimed. "I didn't even know Norwegians knew how to play hockey," Dwayne said, before he added, "Al I've ever heard about Norway is skiers, and speed skaters.
"They had one payer playing for two seasons for Michigan State Univesity, in the middle of the eighties, my father used to say," said Adam, quietly.
"And they've had an NHLer before you lot was born, although he just played one game, got injured, went back to Norway, and died in a car accident," Orion said, before he continued. "Anyway, our new payer, who will join us next scheduled practice, is a defenseman of just that kind we need. He's got good passing skils, good with the puck, and has a great shot." He paused, "In 25 games for his team in the Norwegian junior league, he's gotten 15 goals and 20 assists."
"Wow!" the players said, aside from Futon, that asked, "I suppose he's one of those players that needs constant watching, then, so that he isn't finished off in just one hit?"
Orion shrugged, "I don't know about that," he admitted, before he said, "But we wi let him have his chance with us, understood?"
"Yes coach," the team said in unison.
"Good, have a merry christmas now," the coach said.