Pre-Game (Part 1)
We open the story at the SAP Center in San Jose, California. Inside the large stadium is a typical ice hockey rink surrounded by eager spectators, screaming fans, and the families and relatives of the kids that'll be competing in tonight's big game. Despite it being only a youth league game, the entire arena was packed to the brim as if the NHL Stanley Cup Final was going on in the same building. Reason being for the huge crowd? It was because this game is basically the equivalent of the Stanley Cup: It's the Tri-County Youth League Finals, where the two best teams in the league square off to determine which one is worthy enough to hoist the ultimate prize. What is this prize you might be asking? We'll let our commentators for this game tell you all the details about this game.
Speaking of, let's go up into the broadcast booth now where we find two guys preparing to take the air to cover this game; play by play and all the good stuff. In one chair, we find a gentleman who's in his early 70's and he has a lot of experience when it comes to calling these types of games. His name is Michael Emmet, but most people around the local area call him "Dr. Emmet" mainly because he's also a doctor by trade outside the booth. Joining him tonight to serve as the color commentator is a guy by the name of Joe McDug. Besides being an occasional color commentator, he's primarily a news anchor for a foreign news station across the pond with the name "Transylvania at 6" and he's known primarily for providing the facts, not opinions…well not all the time. Anywho, the two gents were just fixing up their notes on the desks and testing the mics before the cameras went live for this Tri-County Youth League Final match-up.
"Based on what I've heard and read on both teams, this one's gonna be a good one!" Joe stated while reviewing his notes.
"It's gonna be a good one regardless." Emmet replied. "This Foghorns team though…even though they're stacked on offense, they haven't faced a team as stacked on defense as these Mighty Ducks".
"Although, to counter what you just brought up." Joe said. "I wonder how the Ducks' coaching plans to deal with the Foghorns' star player Riley Andersen?"
"Let's save all that for when we take the air." Emmet said in reply. He then turned in his swivel chair toward the camera crew. "Speaking of, how long till showtime?"
"Just under 2 minutes." The Camera operator replied. "And Joe, please keep it civilized on the air. This isn't the Transylvania news network or whatever".
"No Guarantees, but I'll try my best." Joe said in response while fixing his necktie.
"Hopefully you will". Emmet said while straightening his notes and glasses. "Anyway, let's get ready to cover this Hockey Championship game!"
"Alrighty! Preparing to go to air in 3…2…1…" The Camera operator called out.
The Intro for the local news network started to play on the screen along with the theme song for its sports segment. Along with it, we start to see various highlights from the regular season of the Tri-County Youth League; ranging from insane dekes and stealthy snipes to top shelf to heart stopping saves. After the brief highlight montage, we see a fade in of the Finals' logo while spinning around. It eventually stops spinning and accompanying that was the sound effect of a hammer hitting a metal object. Immediately afterward, the broadcast fades over to an overhead view of the crowd, who continue to cheer on from the stands, awaiting the two teams competing tonight to emerge (as well as the players since they're related to them). Some members were even starting to wave their rally towels. While the cameras were still focused on this crowd, Dr. Emmet began his voice over.
"Good evening everyone and welcome to the 2018 Tri-County Youth League Finals! We've got ourselves a good one tonight as we come to you LIVE from the SAP Center in San Jose, California. Usually, this league would play the game at the local rink near the Golden Gate, but both the San Jose Sharks and the National Hockey League were kind enough to let us use this arena for tonight's action."
The camera then changes to show us our two commentators.
"Those of you who aren't familiar with us two, I'm Dr. Emmet along with my good colleague Joe McDug; who's actually joining us here tonight on visit from a news station across the pond".
"It's great to be here tonight man." Joe commented in reply. "It's great to report on something else for a change in my opinion."
"I bet it is for you." Emmet said. "Anywho, we've got ourselves a treat tonight in this Finals match-up. It's the Foghorns going up against the Mighty Ducks and they both bring great skill to the table tonight."
"Based on what've I read and heard about these two, this is gonna be an interesting one." Joe added.
"It will be, that's for sure." Emmet replied.
"Yep. Way more interesting than the time I had to report about some criminal making off with some butter." Joe said while comparing with his past assignment.
"Wait…what now?" Emmet asked in disbelief.
"I'll tell you later off camera." Joe replied. "Anywho, let's get to our two teams tonight!"
"Great idea." Emmet said in agreement. "Anywho, we got ourselves two teams that are completely stacked; although they're only stacked on one particular side of the ice each."
"That may be the case, but that stack got them this far." Joe added.
"Correct." Emmet said in reply. "But the stack aspect is referring to their overall talent, not an actual stack."
"Oh…my bad." Joe apologized.
"Eh, no problem." Emmet replied. "Anyway, the first one we'll introduce to you tonight is a team by the name of the Foghorns. They're lit in terms of overall talent, but the bulk of that is on two things: speed and lethal accuracy."
"Based on what I saw on this team, they can set up quickly in the zone and make you pay if your defensemen and/or goaltender are slow to react." Joe added. "The scary part of the Foghorns though is how quickly they can shoot though. Some of the reels I watched in preparation to help you out tonight, their slapshots registered in the high 90's; faster than I expected for a team at this level."
"You can say that again Joe". Emmet replied.
"Based on what I saw on this team, they can set up quickly in the zone and make you pay- "
"Not that way…" Emmet said while cutting off McDug. "Anyway…back to the Foghorns. They're dangerous on both speed and accuracy as I said earlier. The main ingredient to their success on offense?"
"Their head coach?" Joe asked.
"Partly." Emmet replied. "Ben Sullivan does do a good job formulating their offensive attack. But what I was gonna say was that the main ingredient for the Foghorns' lethal offense is a 15-year-old forward named Riley Andersen."
"That girl has a lot of talent Emmet." Joe commented. "When she gets the puck, she can definitely fly; and her ability to create opportunities at times is a major key for this offense being ranked at the top of this league this season".
"That and let's not also forget some of the other contributors." Emmet replied. "You also have guys like Andy Johnson; the Foghorns' captain since 2010, as well as Joey Tassin."
"Those two go hand and hand with Riley when they have something going on in offense." McDug added while shuffling his notes. "Those three combined are near the top of the team for both goals and assists."
"Indeed, they are." Emmet said. "Now, I'd like to talk about their opponent tonight; the Mighty Ducks."
"Boy the Foghorns are gonna have their hands full tonight." Joe replied as he looked at his notes. "That defensive core can really get after you".
"They can, and they will once you have possession of the puck." Emmet said. "In fact, that same core led the league in hits."
"And that aspect led me to something we're discussing before we took the air." Joe replied while recalling something he brought up prior. "How does the Foghorns' coaching staff plan to dissect this Mighty Duck defense? In fact…I think the bigger question should be this: How does the Mighty Ducks' coaching plan on dealing with Riley Andersen?"
"I think honestly, that's gonna be the key thing if Sam Rivera's Mighty Ducks wants to have a shot of slowing down that Foghorn offense, even though their defensive core can keep up in speed." Emmet replied. "On another note, it could also come down to the goaltending of these two; especially if any of these players slip up tonight."
"Both netminders have been incredible this year." Joe stated. "Ray Khan for the Foghorns and Marty Brodenson for the Mighty Ducks have both been brick walls for a good chunk of this season and Brodenson especially has been outstanding in this playoff run; posting 2 consecutive shutouts going into this game tonight."
Emmet then brought up an interesting question to Joe. "Do you think Riley and company can solve him?"
"That depends Doc." Joe replied. "If that girl and her line want to score on him…or even get a scoring chance, they're gonna have to find a way to carve through that Duck defense. And like both of us said earlier, they can bring the heat physically."
"Although, Riley herself can deliver a couple of hits as well." Emmet added. "And let me tell you, she packs a wallop."
"You're telling me." Joe said in response. "One I saw one time caused the unlucky skater to hit the deck and that check paved the way for an unassisted goal."
"Wait…when did that one occur?" Emmet asked while flipping through his notes.
"3 years ago." Joe replied. "And here's the kicker; she was 12 at the time and to put on that kind of a hit for her age at the time…that's impressive."
"I think I saw a clip of that one when I was watching some kind of commercial on the TV." Emmet said.
"Yeah that one." Joe replied. "And speaking of…don't get me started about one of our sponsors tonight for this game."
"What's wrong with TripleDent huh?" Emmet asked. "To be honest with you, their gum is actually quite good."
"That's true, but still…have you seen or heard the ads? They're annoying as heck!" Joe exclaimed.
"To some, but it's quite catchy if you think about." Emmet replied. "Heck, I find myself whistling the jingle from time to time."
Joe McDug just sat in his swivel chair and had an expression of not amused on his face while staring at Emmet.
"Eh…. moving on." Emmet replied while turning back toward the camera. "So, there you go. It should be a great Finals matchup between a high-power Foghorns offense and a stingy Mighty Ducks defense (and some great goaltending for that matter). Whoever wins will receive this:"
A graphic then popped up on screen showing the viewer a trophy of sorts. It was a simple one on top of a base and two hockey sticks crisscrossed behind it. In fact, it's the basis of the Finals' patch on the team's jerseys for tonight's match-up.
"Looks cool, but what is it?" Joe asked after seeing the graphic on his side.
"That's an award named the Walt and Roy Trophy". Emmet explained. "It's awarded to the champions of the Tri-County Youth League and let me tell you; for these players competing tonight, it's the ultimate piece of hardware to hoist at the end if you win it and it signifies a successful season for both them and the team".
"I guess there's only one way to claim it huh?" Joe asked.
"You bet there is!" Emmet replied with excitement. "And that's through this game tonight!"
Both of our commentators turned back to the camera to close out the pre-game. Emmet began with his.
"When we come back from break, both teams will make their way onto the ice along with the ceremonial puck drop involving the captains of both teams by a special guest. We'll then also take you inside the glass for pre-game interviews with both coaches before the official puck drop to start!"
"And that special guest is- "
"Don't spoil it yet man!" Emmet exclaimed while cutting off McDug. He then turned back to the camera.
"Anyway…we'll be right back."
"And we're clear!" The Camera operator called out.
Both Dr. Emmet and Joe McDug shook hands with each other after doing an exceptional job with the pre-game.
"By the way, what was that you mentioned on air about some guy making off with some butter?" Emmet asked his colleague.
"Ugh…it's a LLLOOONNNGGG story." Joe replied.
"Should help pass the time until we go back on the air." Emmet replied.
"Alrighty." Joe replied. "Everyone gather around for this excuse of a news story I did."
Everyone, even the camera crew gathered around to hear Joe tell his tale while the crowd in the stadium continue to make noise; awaiting the two teams to emerge onto the ice.
Author's note:Hello everyone! I'd like to introduce myself since it's my first story in this fandom. My name is AirlineFlyer and I've been writing stories on here since 2014. This is actually my first publication on F.F here in general after a 2 year hiatus (I sincerely apologize to my followers for the long wait and updates will come soon for my other works when I get the chance to get to them).
Anywho, this was an idea I came up with during the 2 year downtime and I'm actually trying a unique take here since none of the stories here (that I saw that is) focused entirely and specifically on the hockey aspect from start to finish. Because of this direction, everything here will be in the outside perspective and the Emotions will not appear at all (I get it's a main thing for this fandom, but please don't hate me for my approach for this story).
Another note; this has no connection to the original Mighty Ducks trilogy. Their roster here (and the Foghorns roster aside from Riley herself) is completely original for this story specifically.
One last thing to say here. I'd like to say a huge thanks to Svinorita for the shout out in their story "Mall-A-Palooza". It's a great story in my opinion from start to finish so be sure to check that one out!
Anyway, that's it for now and I hope this story of mine goes well here. :)
What do you guys think? Please leave a review if you wish; Constructive criticism and/or suggestions are welcome!
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