NB- THe Red Wings players that have so far featured in the previous chapter and here are all actual players, around the the 1996-1998 seasons. I also just want to point out, I've never personally met any of them, don't know they. So they way they get presented in the story is just through what I make up so it won't alwayys be accurate and if you know the players, watched them all the time..etc and notice anything way off, well it is a story!

Oh yeah and I am a massive Red Wings fan, been following the NHL since 1996 and I am a little upset they lost to the Pens this morning...but anyway...

Chapter 3

The three youngsters dared not say a word they were in quite extraordinary company.

'So...Um why are we here then?' Caleb asked, finally gaining the courage to speak.

'Kids we have singled t he three of you out because of your natural talents at hockey, and we've been watching you closely over the last couple of days. Today's game has only further confirmed what our scouts said to us.' Dave said.

'But at the same time we want to make our own assessments so after a brief discussion in amongst us and we've made a decision,' Greg answered; Michael could feel his stomach begin to twist with anticipation of the next words.

'We want to offer the three of you the chance to come and take part in the club's off-season training scheme for the next two weeks,' Steve remarked.

'Ho—are you for real?' James asked the expression on Steve's face didn't change he was not kidding it was a definite genuine offer he had laid in front of them.

'What do you say, kids?' Michael asked a huge smiled spread across his face.

'Hell yeah!' James and Caleb cried they swapped high-fives.

'Ashley?' Michael asked she snapped out of her thoughts she hadn't even realised she was day dreaming.

'Oh yes, yeah sure,' she said all in a rush and looked a little bashful.

'Good well the sooner you can start the better. We will see the three of you here first thing in the morning next Monday,' Scotty remarked.

'I will have them here on time.' Michael said.

'Good,' Scotty added with a nod and once again they shook hands with Michael and gave an acknowledging nod to the three youngsters then made their way out of the arena.

'Can you believe this? We so have to the others right now.' Caleb said now he was beyond excited but before he could rush off to spread the good news Michael grabbed hold of his shirt and tugged him back.

'Not so fast, Thomas this is big news for the three of you and I understand that, but you are just going on a trial run with the club. There is no promise of anything beyond the next two weeks. I don't want you to get ahead of yourselves at this point. So keep it quiet until I say so. Then when the time is right I will inform the rest of the team,' he said.

'But—but' James began to protest Michael shook his head.

'I said no,' he added. James and Caleb slumped their shoulders.

'No fun,' they muttered they walked back to the locker room Ashley followed a few steps behind it still hadn't quite registered in her head, the invitation felt quite surreal at the moment. When the three returned to the room they got flooded by endless questions from their curious team mates but their satisfaction wasn't filled as Barry reiterated it was personal business that could not be shared with the group just yet.

'I don't see why they need such secrecy,' Danielle said she hated being left out of gossip; Ashley whom walked just ahead of them turned around.

'Get over it Danz you aren't in on it so live with it.' She said and turned back to face the front, behind her back Danielle pulled a face.

*~*~*

The week went pretty fast especially for Ashley, with the Steamrollers needed to play two more games after their victory over the Bulls on the Wednesday. Friday they had a game against the New York Chargers followed on Saturday against the Ottawa Eels, games the Steamrollers won quite easily. Though Ashley, James and Caleb played in the two games their game time had been cut down considerably with Michael keen to have his players as fresh as possible for their big two weeks. His decision annoyed Ashley she hated her time on the ice being cut but it was her coach's orders so she had to wear it. Now the team's next round of games was sorted they were given the week off to relax and prepare for the next part of the tournament along with several other teams.

Now it was 8:17am on Monday morning of the brand new week, a week that would be a massive change for the three players as they faced a new challenge.

'Are they here yet?' Caleb moaned he was growing tired of waiting, in general he liked to spend his days off sleeping in and lately he was being denied that personal privilege.

'Quit your whinge Thomas,' Michael said. They heard a door slam followed by footsteps down the corridor towards the rink. A short time later the coaching staff came into view they descended the stairs to ice level.

'Good morning Michael and kids,' Dave said.

'Good morning Mr Lewis,' the three youngsters said.

'Our players are getting organized now so they won't be long,' he replied.

'This is what our plan is for today,' Scotty said he pulled a piece of paper from inside of his jacket and handed it to Michael. He read the paper his eyes went big.

'This is just for off-season training?' he asked in awe Scotty nodded.

'We have increased it as we start pre-season training next month and then hit pre-season games by September.' He explained.

'What is it?' Caleb asked Michael though pulled the paper away from his view.

'Just be prepared to work very hard these next two weeks, kids and keep your wits about you,' he answered.

'We always do,' James remarked an air of high confidence in his voice Michael smiled.

'We shall see about that one James. Don't get too cocky,' he answered. Ashley was now board of all this waiting so while her coach chatted with the Red Wings staff, James and Caleb occupied with teasing each other, she skated off on her own around the ice. Michael saw this from the corner of his eye he excused his conversation and leant down on the bench seat and picked up a puck.

'Ashley!' he called. She was at the other end of the ice heard her name being called and looked back, Michael flung the puck onto the ice it slid across the smooth surface and slowed up in the neutral zone. Her lips cured into a sly smile there was twinkle in her eyes.

'Oh no here we go,' James mumbled under his breath Caleb too knew what this meant.

Ashley skated to the puck swiped it with her stick and took off at [ace towards the empty net. But instead of just easily putting it away in the net she circled around and flicked it in with her backhand, came back around and took it out and went the opposite direction only this time as she headed down the ice she pulled out a few little fancy stick-handling moves and with the puck in position against the blade she was able to wrist flick it towards the upper-right hand side of the net.

'Show off!' Caleb yelled.

'Do you reckon you can do better Mr Thomas?' Scotty asked with a raised eyebrow a smile on his face. He'd always loved to see competition among the players.

'Uh no sir I don't think so I've never tried,' Caleb said. A loud shuffling noise with loud chatting voices broke the scene as the Red Wings players emerged from the dressing room and went onto the ice. Ashley was oblivious to this action too busy enjoying her alone time. She had retrieved the puck from the empty net and headed up ice again.

'Whoa look out girl!' someone exclaimed when she narrowly avoided a collision with him.

'Sorry!' she called and kept skating; he shook his head an idea came to mind.

'Hey Kris don't even think about it. You are not in any condition to mess around,' Mathieu Dandenault said; Kris rubbed his jaw a grim expression on his face.

'Thanks I really needed the reminder.' He mumbled.

'All right boys let's get to work.' Scotty said, Michael whistled for Ashley she went back to the bench.

'Good dog,' James laughed at her, she shoved him away playfully.

'Everyone meet James Sattler, Caleb Thomas and Ashley Pearson.' Michael said.

'They are my three best players,' he added and the Red Wings players gave an acknowledging nod and hello.

'You will get to meet everyone in time,' Scotty added.

'Now guys show these kids how we start off the morning session,' he said.

It had only taken a couple of minutes for the players to sort out into three separate groups on the ice, the two goaltenders; Chris Osgood and Kevin Hodson took their positions in their respective nets. One group stayed at centre ice going through the warm-up stretches and a tag-team style run up and down the ice. The second and third groups were set up with the goaltenders in a similar tag-team only they had a mini-shoot out.

'Now this is way cooler than what we've ever done.' Caleb remarked.

'I heard that,' Michael answered.

'Sorry coach,' Caleb said.

'Just go join in whichever group you want and don't worry the guys are great once you get to know them,' Scotty replied. * Yeah I bet! * Ashley thought. James and Caleb opted to join in the shoot-out while she weighed up the chance she had with the group doing the warm-ups and the skate. * Why not. I Might teach them a little lesson or two. They might be pros but they haven't seen how I operate just yet * she thought a smug smile on her face.

'So kid it looked like you had quite a few moves,' Doug Brown remarked when she approached the group.

'Oh so you all noticed?' she asked he nodded.

'You definitely got everybody's attention,' he said it made her blush a little but she just shrugged her shoulders.

'Well it is nothing just stuff, I bet it is nothing compared to any of you,' she answered he pursed his lips together.

'I guess we will find out,'

Ashley grinned she was beginning to enjoy being in this company. She decided no matter what happens in the two weeks she wanted to take complete advantage, the opportunity was given to her and she was more than keen to make great use of it. Michael could see the attitude change in his three players as he watched the morning session un-fold. They were enjoying the time mixing with the professionals, learning all there was to learn and he was sure it couldn't have happened to better trio of players at such a young age.
The session had gone for almost two and a half hours with different skills being worked over by the Red Wings coaching staff they wanted to cover all their bases and Michael too was getting tips on coaching as well and he took every piece of advice on board.

'Excellent work everyone; now take a 20-minute break get changed and meet us outside in the parking lot.' Dave said.

'What is next?' Caleb asked

'A test on your endurance,' Greg Johnson replied.

'Oh cool that is always my favourite part,' Caleb said all the players made their way to the rooms now and Michael turned to the coaching staff.

'Well thank you for allowing me to be a part of that session it was quite eventful.' He said.

'It is our pleasure Michael and don't worry we will take care of your players just as long as they can keep up.' Greg said Michael nodded.

'I have every faith they will,' he answered. Handshakes all round and Michael left the rink with the assurance he had done the best for his players. Now the rest was up to them. They play their cards right and who knows what might happen after the two weeks ends.

A half hour trip and the team was left at a remote coast beach just east of the city centre.

'Think of it as an obstacle course,' Michael (Mike) Knuble said when he saw the shocked look on the youngsters faces.

'Just once around the rock face then up the sand dunes and back here,' he added.

'That is a piece of cake I can do it no sweat,' Caleb said James and Ashley caught sideways looks at each other both of them had the same thought run through their mind. Caleb loved to show he was the toughest guy in the team could do everything and never get injured.

'I don't think he learnt his lesson from last year.' James whispered to her and she nodded in agreement.

'Guys you know the drill we have run over this course once before, but please be careful with our youngsters and we will see you back here when you're done,' Scotty remarked all the players broke into a casual jog and hit the sand towards the rocks. The gentle waves lapped at the base none of the other players took any notice Ashley though did, and while she had no fear of the water to run over these jagged rocks filled with slippery moss and water down below it wasn't something she was too keen on doing.

'Come on Ash! You can't dawdle out here!' James called he waved his arms in the air and continued to run.

'Easy for you say,' she muttered.

'Need a hand?'

She looked at Larry Murphy he smiled down at her she shook her head.

'No it's ok I'm fine. I just haven't done this before so it takes getting used to I guess,' she answered he nodded.

'You will get the hang of it in no time,' he said and made the climb she followed him and soon they caught the rest of the pack, scaled more rocks down a slope got wet and ran up a pebbled step pathway and into the deep sand dunes.

'Man this is crazy,' she mumbled, the first few strides up the dune was relatively easy but the trek soon grew tiresome she huffed and puffed the way up; and already a few of the guys were ahead, her sight wasn't helped by the particles of sand that swirled in the wind. * Maybe it was a bad idea to agree to the offer! * She thought.

'Here,'

She looked up to see Kris and Kirk stood in front of her with hands on hips.

'What?' she asked. Instead of replying they held out their hands she stared at them with a blank look then accepted their help.

'I know what it looks like,' she remarked.

'Oh, and what do you think that might be?' Kirk asked they headed up the hill to catch up with the others.

'Well it is rather obvious I bet. After all what is a girl like me here it looks pretty stupid,' she said the two shook their heads.

'Not to us and definitely the other guys don't think so either. We have watched you especially closely so we know your capabilities,' Kris explained.

'But for what? This feels a bit out of place,' she said.

'I wouldn't say that yet,' he answered she looked at him a puzzled expression on her face but he remained tight-lipped. She got the feeling there was more to what he said but she was supposed to figure it out on her own.

*~*~*

'I'm dead tired,' Caleb groaned in his seat.

'Yes we know that already. You've said it a thousand times over,' James replied in the seat beside him. James leant his head against the tinted window of the buss as it sped through the city traffic. Caleb looked over to Ashley but she was busy writing a text message on her phone.

'Hey, Ash.' He said he hoped he wasn't disturbing the rest of the players in the seats in front of them. She looked up from her task and across at the two boys.

'What?'

'Well, aren't you tired?' he asked she rolled her eyes.

'Yeah, of course but you don't hear my complaining non-stop about just how tired I am feeling.' She retorted James sniggered in his seat Caleb elbowed him in the ribs.

'Shut it!' he growled, Ashley shook her head and returned to her message she read over it again and pressed send. She could already imagine what the reaction would be to her message once her parents read it.

'So then kids.'
The three looked up to see Jamie Pushor stood in the aisle of the seats with his arms rested upon the two seats at his sides.

'How did you find your first day?' he asked.

'Great!' Caleb said enthusiastically James and Ashley slapped him across the head.

'Hey! That hurt!' he moaned with a glare at the two of them Jamie laughed at their antics.

'Well aside from it being great.' He said.

'It was a challenge and really exhausting.' James answered Jamie nodded.

'Yes well I thought so but for your first time you guys did great so that is an added bonus.' He said.

'There is more to come too!' Mark Major, one of the guys' that sat in the seat in front of James and Caleb said, curious to his comment Caleb got up and leant over the seat.

'Oh, yeah? What is install for tomorrow?' he asked.

'It will be a surprise for you just wait until tomorrow morning,' Mark replied a sly smile on his face Caleb sulked he dropped back into his seat Jamie had returned to his own seat the bus slowed down as it moved through the traffic.

'There is just one thing left to do,' Mike answered at this point the bus took them to the underground car park of a hotel, one the three youngsters didn't recognize. The coaching staff got out first and the players quickly got organized and got out with the three kids the last to exit the bus. No one even explained anything to them so they followed the group to the lifts and in their little groups got into the lifts and went upstairs.

'Is anyone going to tell us a thing?' James asked Aaron Ward turned to him a sly smile on his face.

'For this part of the day, no consider it a surprise,' he remarked, *Great like we need any more surprises come our way! * Ashley thought. It was their turn in the lifts and, along with three of the other guys they headed to the hotel lobby.
They arrived at the hotel lobby and walked through without turning a head by the visitors as they moved past the reception, the entrance down a long corridor of the duty free shops and instead headed down another corridor to a set of double glass doors that automatically slid open when they neared it, and immediately they heard the sound of water splashes. They reached the in-door swimming pool, spa and sauna but there was another room just to their right-hand side through a see-through glass set up with massage tables and what looked like ice baths.

'Now, this is more like it,' Caleb grinned he rubbed his hands together a glint in his eyes, he didn't need to be told he already knew where he was headed first.

'You know it's probably good coach isn't seeing his behaviour he wouldn't be happy,' James said Ashley nodded.

'We're only here for about an hour and a half, so make use of your time,' Anders Ericksson said James and Ashley agreed.

'We sure will this is just too good,' James answered he rushed off to the massage room as well. * Typical boys! * Ashley sighed instead she walked towards the change rooms; she had decided a relaxing swim was in order after today, just then she heard her phone beep indicating a message had arrived. She quickly put her bags down and pulled out her phone to check the message from her mother.

Michael called us the other day and informed us of the news.

We are very proud of you, Ashley.

She smiled as she read the message. It wasn't t hat long ago; Ashley remembered how much her parents were against the idea of her playing hockey and they'd come up with plenty of reasons not play. Then they went along to watch one of her games in the Rattlesnakes team and knew there was no way they could stop her from pursuing it in the future.

'Thanks mum.' She said and closed her phone and went to get changed.