"Krista" is a student at U Minn, and waitress at the bar that is the unofficial hangout of the team. This is the first time she meets the boys…

Since it was early yet, the bar was only partially filled, and the two waitresses on duty were passing time at the bar chatting with each other and the bartender. Kristina Collins, known to her friends as Krista, was a newly graduated psychology student from the University of Minnesota, still waiting tables in the bar she'd worked at for four years to put herself through school. It wasn't that she didn't want to leave, but in 1979 the economy was in shambles and there wasn't exactly a market for psychology majors. Her co-worker tonight, Sandy Coleman, was a junior English major, and had been at the bar almost as long as Krista.

"What a dull night," Sandy remarked, leaning on the bar. "I miss hockey season. At least then we had some customers…and nice looking ones at that."

"Well, July isn't exactly the best time for hockey, is it? And I haven't seen any of the Olympic boys here either." Krista replied.

"Yeah, where are they? Half the team plays here at the U, so I know they know this place…"

A customer caught Sandy's attention at that moment, and she wandered over to see what he needed. Krista remained near the bar keeping an eye on the rest of the room. She noticed the door opening out of the corner of her eye, and turned to retrieve her order pad.

"Krista!" came the call from across the room.

She turned around to see Robbie McClanahan walking toward her with his arms open.

"Mac! I was wondering when you were going to show up!" She met him halfway and he wrapped his arms around her in a giant bear hug.

"We had some, uh, team chemistry issues we needed to clear up. But I'm here now, and I brought some of the boys along. Are you at the bar tonight?"

"No, I'm waiting tables," she told him.

"Okay, we'll grab some tables and I'll introduce you to everyone."

"Great! Are you having the usual?"

"Uh, yeah, why don't we start with that?" he said.

"Coming right up," Krista replied moving off to the bar. Mac ushered his group over to his favorite table and everyone took a seat.

"They're here!" Sandy exclaimed making her way back to the bar. "But I suppose they're sitting in your section, aren't they?"

Krista smiled. The Minnesota team always sat in her section—they had done it once before a big game and won it, so the superstition continued.

"Oh well," Sandy continued, "there's a really hot baseball player over at table ten."

Krista laughed as she loaded her tray with pitchers of beer. "He's all yours…these guys are going to keep me pretty busy." She picked up the tray and headed over to the boys. "Here's round one, boys, the hockey special…cheap beer and lots of it," she said, placing pitchers around the table.

Mac waited until she finished then motioned her over. "Let me introduce you to the pack here…Neal and Buzzy you know…"

"…the only two I don't get a crick in my neck talking to…" she laughed.

"…Bah and Pav here are from UMD…"

"…more Minne-snow-tons…"

"That's right," Bah replied grinning. "We have to dig tunnels in the snow just to get to practice, even in the spring."

"…Kenny and Wellsie went to Bowling Green…" Mac continued.

"I've been waiting for you two," she said with a wink. "I'm tired of being the only Michigan native here."

"Magic's a Wisconsin boy…" Mac said.

"That's pretty close. Do you know how to play euchre?" she asked.

Mark laughed. "Of course."

"Excellent! A great skater and a euchre player; I like him already!"

"…and then we have the eastern boys…Coxy's from UNH…"

"I'm neutral, I swear!" Coxy blurted out.

"Been hanging out with those Boston boys, haven't you?" Krista smiled. "Don't worry, I won't hold it against you."

"And last, but definitely least, Silky, Rizzo, and OC, are from Bahston University…"

"'76…" she started.

"Is that all you Gophers think about?" Silky interrupted.

Krista laughed. "I knew I'd get somebody with that…"

"There're a few boys who didn't come tonight, but I'm sure they'll be regulars real soon," Mac concluded.

"Well it's a pleasure to meet you all," Krista told them. "I'm Krista, and if you guys are in here half as often as the Gophers are, we'll get to know each other very well."

"So how do you know Mac?" Rizzo asked, having witnessed the bear hug greeting.

"Mac and I had a class together a while back, and I helped him…" Mac elbowed her in the side, "…uh, he helped me out when I was having some trouble," she finished with a big toothy grin.

"So you're not together or anything…" OC chimed in suggestively.

Mac and Krista looked at each other and laughed. "No," Krista replied. "Once I saw him wear the same socks for three weeks because he was on a scoring streak. Do you know what socks smell like after three weeks?"

Sheepish looks were exchanged around the table. "Some of you do…" she smiled. "For weeks after the sock thing, I couldn't see him without wrinkling up my nose. That sort of put a damper on anything that might have happened. Anyway, if there's anything you need, just let me know…" Krista gathered up her tray and headed over to check on her other customers.

"How about a date?" OC pipped up.

"Nope," she called, continuing to walk away.

He turned around, confused. "Why not?"

"I don't date guys that are prettier than me," she said over her shoulder, laughing.

"I like her," Bah grinned.

Sandy was waiting at the bar. "How's the baseball player working out?" Krista asked her.

"Very yummy, but not real big on words," Sandy replied. "How 'bout that hockey player?"

"Sandy, I told you, there's nothing going on between me and Mac…"

"No no no, not him, the one that keeps looking over here, with the black hair and the big chest."

Krista turned discreetly to take a look. "Rizzo? I just met him. You're jumping to conclusions again."

"Maybe…"