Chapter 34 Plan 91

I'm watching the game tapes from tonight's game. We've got a problem. And it's not going to go away without some serious action. We lost this game not because we were out played. No, it was lost on dumb penalties and frayed tempers. In fact looking at the stats since October 9th our record, as been 1 win and 5 loses. I shake my head at the screen. Sid is an emotional mess. He's taking wild shots and arguing with the refs. It's not pretty. If it were anyone else I'd have him in here for a good yelling match but I'm pretty sure I know what this is all about. My phone rings.

'You watching the replay of that shit?'

'Yes, Mario, I'm watching it.' I take my glasses off my face and rub my eyes.

'He needs to have his bell rung. That shit isn't going to cut it around here and he knows it. Sid's being a prick to everyone. The reporters are threatening to actually speak openly about his attitude. This is becoming a PR mess, Ray.' His French accent gets thicker the more excited he gets and Mario is wound up today. 'The boys take off for a four game road trip Monday through the Pacific Division. I think we should confront him. But Nathalie has made me promise to stay out of this.'

'Actually, you made a promise to Tylyn, Jaseur, to keep this quiet too. I agree with the ladies talking to Sid isn't an option until he is willing to open up. But I agree we do need to do something before this escalates any further.' My coffee has gone cold. 'Give me sometime to think about this and I'll get back to you.'

'Do you have a plan, mon ami?'

'Not yet but I'll get back to you.' I'm playing the tape of Sid pushing around the young goalie from today's game. So if we can't talk to Sid what are our options.

But I can only come up with one. Tylyn. We talk to Tylyn.

'Bylsma.'

'Hi Dan, Ray here. I am trying to figure out how to spell Tylyn's name. I get her first name but do you have any clue how to spell her last name? Seems to me you mentioned it was Dutch or German like your name.' I was trying to look her up on line but until I get the correct spelling I'm not having any luck.

'Hmmm, H-I –L-K-E-M-A, actually try it with a Y instead of the I. With her first name having two Y's in it I suspect that her last name will have a Y in it. What are we going to do? I'm not far away, are you in your office?' Dan must be on the move.

'Yeah, I was sitting here when Jaseur called wanting to get involved.' I am typing her name into Google with BC behind it.

'Great, I'll be right there. Don't do anything until I get there.' Dan's a problem solver.

I do press enter and the first item on the list is a newspaper article from the Victoria Times Colonist newspaper entitled. "Valley Girl is Golden" dated from August. I'm still reading it when he comes through the door.

'Come look at this.' I gesture for him to come around behind my desk to read over my shoulder. 'There is more to this girl than meets the eye. We heard about the hockey dad and four older brothers but not the field hockey.' Then mid way through the article there is a section where they have interviewed her father. He speaks about challenging his young players when they get cocky in drills against her and how her ice hockey skills generally show up the boys. He is very proud of her skills. The pictures accompanying the article show Tylyn with her gold medal around her neck seated on a patio swing with a small funny looking dog on her lap, another one is an action shot of her playing field hockey from the Summer Olympics, and the last but to me the most impressive is beside a wall of trophies for outstanding play from many tournaments.

'Look at that last line. She's trying out for the UBC T-Birds ladies ice hockey team. I wonder if she made the team?' Dan is slow to catch up getting to the end of the article. I save the page and then go back my google search. 'There she is on the UBC Roster of players for 2012/2013 as a winger.'

'Hmmm. Click on that one.' Dan is pointing to the Roster link that I have spotted. It gives a tiny bio, she's playing as a winger, her stats are good. Not many games but points in every game that she has played. 'We could talk to her coach maybe get her cel number.' My thoughts exactly.

'There was another one here I wanted to look at. The Canadian Field Hockey Assoc. web page.' But when I click on it she is there on the Olympic team and a similar article but she is not on the current team. 'Why do you think she's not playing field hockey this year? Look here is the current team but she's not on it. Hey, that's not the coach that was mentioned in the Newspaper report. He was an old Indian guy where as this is a woman.'

'That's odd. If she's so great why wouldn't you have her play. The newspaper said that this was a building year so why not use her obvious skill and experience to develop the younger players. That seems short sighted.' Dan is saying what I'm thinking.

'I don't know. I'm thinking that I'll try looking up her number in the 411 listings.' I'm thinking out loud.

'That would be a waste of time. Kids these days are all connected to their cell phones. Those numbers are not listed in any phonebook old man. Call that UBC coach she'll now how to get a hold of her. I'll do it if you want. Coach to coach.' Dan is now leaning back against the bookshelf behind me.

'Thanks. I'll call. I haven't figured out what to say yet. Tylyn doesn't seem to want the whole world to know about her and wonder butt. Or else she'd have posted tons on the internet. I think that this is going to need a little finesse.' My mind is spinning on how to approach the coach.

'Well if you want finesse keep Jaseur, the bull in the china shop, out of it.' Dan makes me laugh.

'Don't worry about that, Nathalie must have him by the short and fuzzies 'cause he delegated this pretty quickly.' This makes Dan laugh.

'Well keep me posted. I'm going home I've had enough of reporters for one day. I closed down tomorrow's practice just to keep the media at bay. Sid's under pressure and none of us need them stirring him up any more. Take care.'

'Good plan. Save drive home Dan. See you in the morning.' I go back to the computer screen.

….

Monday morning sees me back sitting in my office but this time my coffee is hot. I called Sid yesterday just to touch base with him. He's pretty stressed but is not saying what it is about. Then I spent the rest of the day taking calls from his parents separately, his agent Pat Brisson, his personally trainer Andy O'Brien, several former teammates and friends. Yup, Houston we have a problem.

I punch in the number to the UBC coach into the phone. I take a deep breath because I still don't know what I'm going to say.

'Hello?' It's a young sounding voice that answers the phone.

'Karen Hooper?' I hold my breath.

'Yes, can I help you?'

'I'm Ray Shero General Manager of the Pittsburgh Penguins.' I pause to gather my thoughts.

'Hello, Mr Shero, how can I help you?'

'Well, I am not sure how closely you follow the NHL but I was hoping to talk to you about one of your players?'

'Tylyn Hylkema? Yes, I do follow the NHL and I am not surprised to hear from you. You, Mr Shero, are having a problem.' I can't tell if this last statement or a question.

'So you know then?' I ask tentatively.

'About Tylyn and Sid? Oh yes. I know. I don't think many other people know but I do. He came out to see one of our games in September. He introduced himself. Tylyn is a special girl. I hope everything will be okay.'

'What do you mean you hope everything will be okay?'

'You know she's been dropped by the Women's Field Hockey team. The new coach doesn't like her attitude or something crazy. I don't get it. I personally think that the coach is trying to make her mark but going about it all wrong. It works out for us because Tylyn is available for more of our games.' She explains. 'Tylyn is little but has great skills and now with those new skates of hers, she's tearing up the ice.'

'That's good to hear. So Tylyn is well? Nothing else going on in her life we should know about?' I don't know what I'm fishing for but I've got to try.

'I know she was pretty cut up about being dropped by the National team but she's now helping out the men's squad. She was at a tourney this weekend in Seattle with the Men's field hockey team. We played a game against the Washington State University women's team Saturday evening and she was able to come and play with us. We were able to get to watch their second half their afternoon field hockey game. Her stick skills are great. She's fierce competitor. I don't think people give that sport the credit that they are due. It's a fast game.' She is sounding proud of her player.

'She's playing with the Mens' team?' I'm incredulous.

'Oh yeah and showing up the competition. She calls it 'chicking the boys.'

'Chicken?'

'No, chicking as in she is a chick and she beats them at their own game. You know her brother Caleb is a defenseman for the Men's Ice hockey team here at UBC right?'

'No. I didn't know that.' Surprise surprise.

'Yeah well he is a big guy. 6'4" maybe. Well what put her on our team was a' little ice session between the girls coming off the ice in our tryouts and the guys going on the ice. Caleb went out I think to offer her encouragement but she stripped him of the puck, deked around him, flicked the puck out of the air behind him and tapped into the net. It was impressive. Her skating was pitiful but her stick work. Outstanding. I think Caleb is still trying to live that down.' I know what she means. I saw know another player who was stripped of the puck and he get's paid 8.7 million to play the game. 'So when she came back from her Thanksgiving holiday with new skates that actually fit her feet, Tylyn has been unstoppable. Hey, you'll love this. Caleb challenged his teammates to beat her at some drills. So little Tylyn laced up those Reebok skates of hers and made our men's hockey team look like idiots. It was impressive.'

'Doing drills? Or what?' My mind is spinning.

'Yes, Caleb ran the drills. Tylyn was pitted against all these guys who have played for most of their lives at a pretty competitive level. She beat them in foot races, through obstacle courses carrying a puck, fighting for the puck in the boards, one on one drills and then her piece de resistance stick skills. I don't think, Caleb gets razzed anymore from his teammates about being beaten by his little sister. I think that they were pretty much 'chicked' by her.' I can hear the laughter in Karen's voice.

'Karen, I think I know just what you mean. I have seen Tylyn working those new skates. Good on her for beating the boys.' But my mind is formulating a plan. 'I want to talk to Tylyn so if you have a contact number I would appreciate it.'

'How about this Mr Shero? I don't like to give numbers of my players out without their permission but if you give me your number I'll get it to her and ask her to call you.' Not exactly what I wanted but it's more than I have now. I give her my cell number.

'That sounds fair. Thanks for all your help today. I hope to meet you one day. Good luck with your season.' I'm about to sign off when she replies.

'And you with yours Mr Shero. I'll get this to her today. I know Tylyn is a huge Pens fan and will want the best for your team. Good day.' And she hangs up.

So I have a plan. When Tylyn calls we'll chat about what's going on and then I'll update Jaseur and Dan.