Notes: I know I write for my own amusement. Anyone else amused? I'm
amused so that's always important! =) Let me know. And yes there is an
explanation on the contract in this chapter.
Getting to Know Coach
They practice and played a few games but they still lost their games. One Wednesday Shawn Peters, the goalie of Varsity, came up to Adam. "Coach I heard you were on the Junior Goodwill Games Team in 92 and you won gold.
"Yeah I was. Why?"
"I was wondering if you can help me. I'm goalie but I don't think I can get enough practice with the others. I mean all you have to do to make this team is know how to skate and know the basic rules of hockey."
And Orion once said this wasn't Peewees. Adam thought with a smile. "What would you like me to do?"
"Shoot a few for me? Please Coach I need the practice."
"I don't know. I haven't played in sixteen years."
"Just a couple shots?"
"Okay." Adam said hoping that maybe just maybe it would help the goalie. He liked the team and all and did want them to be better players.
They played a bit. Adam felt like he was twelve years old and before he injured his wrist. And the funny thing about it was that the goalie reminded him of Goldberg except Shawn didn't complain about having pucks hit at him.
When they stopped Shawn took off his helmet. "Wow coach you are really good. Bret said his uncles told him that you were a washed up never was. They were so wrong."
"Who are his uncles?"
"Rick and Mikah. I don't know their last name. Maybe it's Iverson. Anyway Bret said you played with them."
Of course, it is Riley. "Yeah I played a couple of games with them when I was on Varsity."
"Why did you quit? You are good."
"Bad wrist. My doctor finally told me to stop playing for a few years. I never played again. I once had a contract for when I finished high school. Never did sign it."
"Why not?"
"I like coaching." Adam said not sure, whom he was trying to convince. "I have to get Tyler home and you've got homework. I'll see you at practice tomorrow." He walked off leaving a stunned Shawn behind.
***
Shawn entered the locker room the next day. "Guys!" He said excitedly. "I learned something about our Coach! He's really good. He dropped out of hockey because of his bad wrist but he had a contract with the NHL I think after he was out of high school."
Bret started laughing. "You are kidding right? Him? My Uncle Rick said he was just some average player that had rich parents and was put on Varsity because of that."
"I'm telling you Bret. He's really good." Shawn said.
The door opened and Adam walked in. "What's keeping you?"
"Hey coach is it true that you had a contract to play in the NHL?" Andy Carlson asked.
"Yeah it's true. Come on guys we've got practice."
They filed out. There seemed to be an energy about them that Adam hadn't seen before. "Good practice. Keep that up and the game tomorrow will go better."
"Why aren't you in the NHL?" Marcia asked.
"Because that was nineteen years ago. They wouldn't want me now."
"Hey coach. You want us to go to state to keep the JV team. And you should be playing. How about if we go to state, you try out for the NHL." Shawn said. The others nodded in agreement though only Shawn had ever seen him play.
"You getting state will take a lot of work. But if it'll motivate you, it's a deal." Adam said knowing that it was a big chance for them to make state.
Getting to Know Coach
They practice and played a few games but they still lost their games. One Wednesday Shawn Peters, the goalie of Varsity, came up to Adam. "Coach I heard you were on the Junior Goodwill Games Team in 92 and you won gold.
"Yeah I was. Why?"
"I was wondering if you can help me. I'm goalie but I don't think I can get enough practice with the others. I mean all you have to do to make this team is know how to skate and know the basic rules of hockey."
And Orion once said this wasn't Peewees. Adam thought with a smile. "What would you like me to do?"
"Shoot a few for me? Please Coach I need the practice."
"I don't know. I haven't played in sixteen years."
"Just a couple shots?"
"Okay." Adam said hoping that maybe just maybe it would help the goalie. He liked the team and all and did want them to be better players.
They played a bit. Adam felt like he was twelve years old and before he injured his wrist. And the funny thing about it was that the goalie reminded him of Goldberg except Shawn didn't complain about having pucks hit at him.
When they stopped Shawn took off his helmet. "Wow coach you are really good. Bret said his uncles told him that you were a washed up never was. They were so wrong."
"Who are his uncles?"
"Rick and Mikah. I don't know their last name. Maybe it's Iverson. Anyway Bret said you played with them."
Of course, it is Riley. "Yeah I played a couple of games with them when I was on Varsity."
"Why did you quit? You are good."
"Bad wrist. My doctor finally told me to stop playing for a few years. I never played again. I once had a contract for when I finished high school. Never did sign it."
"Why not?"
"I like coaching." Adam said not sure, whom he was trying to convince. "I have to get Tyler home and you've got homework. I'll see you at practice tomorrow." He walked off leaving a stunned Shawn behind.
***
Shawn entered the locker room the next day. "Guys!" He said excitedly. "I learned something about our Coach! He's really good. He dropped out of hockey because of his bad wrist but he had a contract with the NHL I think after he was out of high school."
Bret started laughing. "You are kidding right? Him? My Uncle Rick said he was just some average player that had rich parents and was put on Varsity because of that."
"I'm telling you Bret. He's really good." Shawn said.
The door opened and Adam walked in. "What's keeping you?"
"Hey coach is it true that you had a contract to play in the NHL?" Andy Carlson asked.
"Yeah it's true. Come on guys we've got practice."
They filed out. There seemed to be an energy about them that Adam hadn't seen before. "Good practice. Keep that up and the game tomorrow will go better."
"Why aren't you in the NHL?" Marcia asked.
"Because that was nineteen years ago. They wouldn't want me now."
"Hey coach. You want us to go to state to keep the JV team. And you should be playing. How about if we go to state, you try out for the NHL." Shawn said. The others nodded in agreement though only Shawn had ever seen him play.
"You getting state will take a lot of work. But if it'll motivate you, it's a deal." Adam said knowing that it was a big chance for them to make state.