AUTHOR'S NOTES: This chapter sure did come faster than the last one! This is the third to last chapter.

A NEW TEAM – CHAPTER THIRTEEN – COACHES' DUEL

Team USA filed onto the ice for their final team practice. The atmosphere was a bit sad. This was the last time they'd ever practice together; and after the Iceland game they might never see each other again.

"Hey, Coach?" Portman asked. "Shouldn't we have our hockey gear on?" The team stood around in their street clothes and skates. Coach Bombay had insisted that they leave their gear in the locker room.

"Well, this is our last team practice," Coach Bombay started. "Which means-"

"The return of Captain Blood?" Averman asked.

The team laughed, but Coach Bombay did not seem so amused. "No. It means…" he pulled a beach ball out from behind his back and hot it in the air. "Let's have some fun!"

"Goldberg! Toss it over here!" Kaley held her arms over her head.

"Here it comes!" Goldberg tossed the ball clear over Kaley's head.

"Hey! No fair!" Kaley complained as she fell to the ice. "Just because I'm short-"

Kaley suddenly stopped when she realized that her voice was the only sound in the stadium. She scrambled of the ice and saw the black-clad Vikings standing in a row in front of Team USA. The only splash of color on the whole team was the beach ball Coach Stansson held in his hands. Aw, if I'd only caught it… Kaley thought.

"Look, just get out of here," Luis said.

"Luis," Miss MacKay placed a hand on Luis' shoulder, telling him to stay back.

"We have the ice," Coach Stansson said coldly. "Your little team must leave now."

Coach Bombay snorted. "The only little thing was your career in the pros."

Coach Stansson's eyes hardened. "At least I had a shot."

"Ouch." Charlie, who was standing next to Kaley, whispered.

"You were a disgrace," Coach Bombay gritted. He turned back to Team USA. "Let's move."

"You've still got it?" Coach Stansson challenged. "Prove it. Play a little with me. Show me that triple deke your daddy taught you. Or was it that geezer over there?" He pointed to Jan, who was watching from the stands.

Coach Bombay took the stick Coach Stansson offered him. "I'll play," he said. "Three bar. The first one to hit the crossbar has to take it out past the blue line."

"I know the game," Coach Stansson said. "Let's play."

This was a mistake, Gordon thought as he faced off against the much bigger Icelander. Almost immediately, Wolf knocked him to the ice. Shoot, Gordon thought as the other man proceeded to score.

"Come on, Gordon, come on," Wolf urged tauntingly.

"Come on, Coach, show him!" One of Team USA yelled.

I'll show him, Gordon thought, clambering to his feet and stealing the puck from Wolf. There. He scored.

"That wasn't even my triple deke," Gordon told Wolf over cheers from Team USA and jeers from Iceland.

Wolf growled and tried to steal the puck, Oh, no, you don't, Gordon thought. He took advantage of his opposition's rattled confidence and scored.

"One more time and you go home crying," Gordon said smugly. "Oh, by the way, Stansson, you owe me a beach ball."

Crack!

Pain exploded in Gordon's knee like a thunderclap. What happened? He thought, as he fell to the ice clutching the ailing body part. No, not again…

"Get your coach off the ice!" Wolf yelled coldly.

"Hey, now-" Jesse started.

"Jesse, no," Gordon hauled himself to his feet. "Let's just go."

Team USA led Coach Bombay off the ice. Everyone was thinking the same thing: We've got to beat them tomorrow. Whatever it takes, we have to beat Iceland.