"Hurry up Charlie, we're running late," Guy said as he left their
room the next afternoon. They had an away game Against the Jefferson
Academy Flames this afternoon and they were suppose to be on the bus in
five minutes.
They weren't the only ones running late. Dwayne, Russ and Ken were just at the bottom of the steps as Guy started down them.
Charlie quickly grabbed his bag and hockey stick and left his room. As he pulled the door shut he saw Adam coming out of his room dressed in jeans and his Ducks jersey.
"Adam, you know you don't have to go. We'll explain it to Coach Bombay. He'll understand."
"I need to go Charlie," Adam told him. "I'll just drive myself crazy if I wait around here."
Charlie nodded as the two hurried down the steps. They met Connie and Julie at the bottom of the steps and Linda, who was riding over with the team was waiting in the doorway on the common room. As a group the five of them headed out to the bus that was waiting for them.
Coach Bombay was standing at the door of the bus checking off team members as they got on. He didn't seem to look to thrilled at the fact that most of them were running late. As the group approached the bus he marked off Linda and Charlie on his list and then noticed Adam.
"Take this," Bombay said handing Charlie the clip board and leading Adam a little bit away from the bus to talk to him. Charlie marked off Connie and Julie's name as they got on the bus and then looked to see if they were missing anyone else. Everyone else was accounted for so Charlie got on the bus. Meanwhile Bombay was talking quietly with Adam.
"You don't need to come today, Adam. I know about what happened last night."
"How?" Adam asked. He had been planning on telling the Coach later this afternoon after the game. In a way he was relieved that he wouldn't have to.
"Your dad talked to me twice yesterday. The first time was right after practice yesterday. He wanted me to drop you from the team because he didn't want you to play on JV. I told him I couldn't do that. He then called me after his 'conversation' with you and told me about what happened. I almost wish I had agreed to do what he wanted and drop you from the team because then you wouldn't have had to go through that."
What Gordon didn't tell Adam was that Philip Banks had blamed everything on Gordon during that second conversation. Philip Banks had told Gordon that he had corrupted his son. That Gordon had ruined his son's respect for tradition and responsibility to his family. Gordon knew that what Philip Banks had told him wasn't true but he also knew that there was need for Adam to know about it. Adam had been hurt enough through all of this.
"I'm glad you didn't," Adam told him. "I want to be a part of this team. I need to be a part of this team."
"I never meant to cause problems between you and your father Adam. If I had known then that it would come to this I would have withdrew my protest and left you on the Hawks."
"I'm glad you didn't," Adam told him. "I did resent you at first for taking me away from the Hawks. I thought they were my friends. It was a family tradition to skate for that team. But then after the first couple of games I found that I liked skating with the Ducks better and Charlie and the others have proven to be better friends than any of the Hawks ever were."
"What's your mom's position on all of this?"
"I don't know. I haven't talked to her yet," Adam admitted.
"You need anything you just let me know," Bombay told him. "And if you want to rethink your decision I want you to know I'll understand. I don't want you off this team but you need to do what is right for you no matter what that is."
"Thanks, Coach."
"We got a game to go win," Bombay said putting his arm around Adam's shoulders and heading for the bus.
The ride to Jefferson Academy was unusually quiet. The Ducks whispered in small groups but there was none of the loud team conversations that normally went on. Adam sat at the front of the bus in the seat across from Bombay quietly looking out the window. Bombay was worried about his skater but he knew he had to let Adam choose when he wanted to really talk about what he was feeling. He wished Hans were still here. Hans would have known what to do. With Hans gone, Bombay no felt the obligation to be to his skaters what Hans had been to him and these kids after him. A friend and a mentor as well as their coach.
The first period of the game did not go well for the Ducks. The Jefferson Flames were a rough team and Charlie and his teammates ended up spending as much time on the ice as they did on their skates. Bombay kept either Fulton or Portman out on the ice during the whole period. The Flames were able to take a lot of shots at the Duck's goal but Julie was able to stop all but one so the period ended Flames one and Ducks zero.
During the second period Adam finally found a weakness in the Flames defense which he pointed out to Bombay who passed it along to his skaters. After that the Ducks had more success at mounting an attack against the Flames goal. By the end of the second period they were able to tie the game at two to two.
However, all the Ducks were sore and bruised from the hits they had been taken from their opponents. They were all looking forward to the break between periods.
"You guys are doing great out there," Bombay told them in the locker room.
"Yeah, but we need to beat this team to make league play-offs," Russ said. Even though they had several more regular season teams if the Ducks lost today they could when the last games of the regular season and still not make play-offs.
"I think you guys are up to it," Bombay told them. "These guys are no tougher than Varsity and you guys won that game. You guys can beat tough teams like these guys because you play smarter hockey."
"Yeah," the Ducks said Bombay's words lifting their spirits.
As the third period started, Charlie went down on the face-off and the Flames immediately scored another goal. As Charlie got up and got set up for the next face off he put a look of determination on his face. He was determined not to let that happen again. As the referee blew his whistle and dropped the puck Charlie got the puck and passed it off to Guy sending his opponent down to the ice this time.
It took them longer but the Ducks eventually scored another goal tying the game once again. The next face off was won by the flames again. After about four minutes of the puck down in the Ducks defense zone and three blocked shots Russ finally iced the puck to get it out of their zone. They switched players putting fresh players out on the ice for the Flames' next attack. It was Guy who got a hold of the puck by intercepting a pass taking the Flames by surprise. He took the puck across center ice and then passed the puck to Charlie who scored a goal. It was the last goal of the game and the Ducks won it four to three. The Ducks were in the league play- offs.
"Great game today guys," Bombay told them on the bus trip home which was already noisier than the ride their had been. "I don't want you guys to let down now even though we have a place in the play-offs. You guys have three more regular season games left and I'd like to see you guys win all three of them," Bombay said which received a round of cheers.
Back at Eden Hall the Ducks put their stuff in their rooms and then went their separate ways for the evening. Charlie, Linda, Guy and Connie went out on a double date. Luis and his girlfriend went to the movies and Julie and Scooter were getting together. Portman, Fulton, Ken, Russ, Dwayne, and Averman all went to the arcade. Goldberg went to the library to work on a report that was due the following week. Adam hung around the dorms. He thought about calling his mother a couple of times but couldn't bring himself to do it. Steve came into the room before too long and Adam started telling him about what had happened the night before.
Sunday morning Adam was out on the steps of the dorm at nine o'clock. He had a physical therapy session that morning at nine-thirty and his mother was suppose to pick him up in ten minutes. After Friday night he wasn't sure that she was going to show up. Scooter had told him the night before that if she didn't show up to give him a call and he'd drive him to the session.
At five minutes after nine though he saw his mom's car pull into the parking lot. She pulled the car up to the curb in front of the dorm and as Adam stood up from his place on the steps she got out of the car and rushed over to him. She gave him a hug and Adam didn't resist her.
"I love you," she told her son. "Your father should've never tried to make you quit the team but he's set in his ways. But I told him that I wasn't going to go along with him in this and that I thought he was wrong."
This was the first time Adam had ever seen his Mom go against his Dad. She usually just went along with her husband. He knew she wasn't going to be able to change his Dad's stance in the matter but at least he knew now that he still had his mother to lean on.
"If we don't go, we're going to be late," Angela Banks finally said letting go of her son.
After the session mother and son went out for lunch. Adam told his mom about the game the afternoon before and that the Ducks were now for sure in the league play-offs. They talked about a lot of things that afternoon but neither of them mentioned Adam's father.
The next week was fairly uneventful for everyone at Eden Hall. The Ducks won their game on Wednesday night. On Friday night there was a JV/Varsity double header at Eden Hall. Both Eden Hall teams won their respective games.
On Monday Bombay took Adam to the doctor appointment that was scheduled after Adam's classes. Mrs. Banks had something to do that afternoon and had asked Adam to find another way to the appointment. After examining Adam's knee the Doctor called Bombay into the exam room and gave them good news. He was clearing Adam to practice as long as Adam took it easy and didn't skate the entire practice non-stop. He also didn't want Adam in any scrimmage game feeling that even a practice game was taking too much of a chance of re-injury at this point. Adam asked if he would be able to skate in the final regular season game next Monday and was told it was too early to make that decision.
They were running close to the Ducks practice time by this time as Bombay pulled his van up to the curb outside of the dorm. Adam hurried up to his room and quickly grabbed his stuff. By the time they got to the arena most of the Ducks were already out on the ice.
"Just get ready and come join us," Bombay told Adam as they entered the arena.
As Bombay head over to the rink Adam made his way to the locker room. Charlie, Dwayne, and Guy were still in the locker room finishing lacing up their skates. Adam sat his stuff down next to Charlie and started getting ready for practice.
"You're skating today?" Charlie asked.
"Yeah. The doctor cleared me this afternoon."
"That's great," Dwayne said.
"What about games?" Guy asked.
"I haven't been cleared for the games yet," Adam said "but the doctor didn't say I definitely wouldn't be able to play next week so there is a chance."
"Well, see you out there," Charlie said. "If we don't get out there Bombay is going to have us doing laps for being late."
Charlie, Dwayne and Guy left the locker room and Adam finished getting ready for practice. When Adam joined his teammates on the ice they were doing a shooting drill. Adam was quickly worked into the rotation and Adam quickly found out how out of practice he was. Both Julie and Goldberg were able to stop all of his shots. Bombay told him not to get discouraged that it would come back to him.
Halfway through practice Bombay split them into two teams for a scrimmage game which ended Adam's practice. Although he wouldn't have admitted it Adam was glad. He was already worn out from the first half of practice even though Bombay had made him sit out a couple of times for a short break.
Throughout the week practices got easier for Adam. On Friday, Bombay split the team into small groups to work on different things. He paired Charlie and Adam up for some one-on-one work with Julie serving as a goalie. Adam was still frustrated with how he was playing. It seemed like every time he had the puck Charlie managed to steal it away from him. The one time he was able to take a shot Julie was able to block it. And he did no better skating defense against Charlie either. The only thing that made him feel a little bit better was the fact that Julie was blocking all of Charlie's shots too.
Charlie could tell that Adam was starting to get frustrated and he couldn't blame him. Charlie had to admit to himself that if he were in Adam's place he would probably be getting frustrated too. He thought about going easier on Adam but then decided against it. If Adam figured out he was doing it Adam would be mad at him.
Bombay interrupted them at that point. He took Charlie aside first and talked to him and then did the same thing with Adam. He then had Adam try offense again with Charlie being defense. Charlie wasn't sure how it happened but somehow in trying to get the puck away from Adam he tripped him. When Adam went down he hit the ice hard.
"Adam are you okay?" Charlie asked as he quickly knelt down beside his teammate. As Bombay came over to both of them Charlie could see that Adam still had his eyes opened but he didn't move or say anything for a few moments. Then he slowly started to push himself up off the ice. Charlie and Bombay both helped him to his feet.
"Are you okay, Adam?" Bombay asked him.
"Yeah," Adam said nodding. " I just got the wind knocked out of me. I'm fine."
"Okay but why don't you go sit down for a few moments" Bombay told him.
Adam just nodded. Sitting down didn't sound like a bad idea. Charlie skated to the side of the rink with him. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to do that," Charlie told him.
"I know," Adam told him. If he had been skating on varsity and that had happened he would have had his doubts but not with Charlie. "I'll be fine," Adam told Charlie indicating to him that he should go back out and join the rest of the team. Bombay had called all the groups in together at center ice.
Bombay quickly had the Ducks working on a drill together as a team. After about five minutes Adam went out and joined them. The rest of the practice was uneventful.
Though the Ducks didn't have any official practices over the weekend Adam still found time to practice both on the ice and on roller blades. Sometimes he practiced on his own and other times a few of the other Ducks were with him. Charlie was starting to worry that Adam was pushing himself to hard but when he mentioned his concern to Adam, Adam brushed him off.
Adam was not cleared to play in the game on Monday night. The doctor told Adam he didn't think it would be safe yet but in actuality it was Bombay's doing that Adam was not cleared. Bombay had talked with the doctor earlier in the day and asked him not to clear Adam. Bombay had seen Adam practicing over the weekend and shared Charlie's concerns about Adam pushing himself to much. He figured that if Adam wasn't cleared to skate in the game then at least Monday was one day that Adam would be forced to take a break from the practicing. The doctor assured Adam that he would be cleared for the first play-off game.
The Ducks won their last regular season game two to zero. It was also the last game to be played before Thanksgiving break which started on Wednesday. The playoff games would start on the following Tuesday when the students returned from the holiday break.
At Tuesdays practice, the Duck's last practice before the Thanksgiving break, Bombay split them up into two teams and let them play a friendly game against each other. Instead of being a coach Gordon put on Hockey gear and joined them giving each team an alternate.
At the beginning of the game Adam found himself making a lot of stupid mistakes. At one point Bombay told him to relax and have fun. Once he took that advice Adam started playing much better.
Somewhere along the line they lost track of the score. It didn't really matter anyways. The Ducks were having fun and it was a good way to end things before everyone went home for the Thanksgiving holiday.
They weren't the only ones running late. Dwayne, Russ and Ken were just at the bottom of the steps as Guy started down them.
Charlie quickly grabbed his bag and hockey stick and left his room. As he pulled the door shut he saw Adam coming out of his room dressed in jeans and his Ducks jersey.
"Adam, you know you don't have to go. We'll explain it to Coach Bombay. He'll understand."
"I need to go Charlie," Adam told him. "I'll just drive myself crazy if I wait around here."
Charlie nodded as the two hurried down the steps. They met Connie and Julie at the bottom of the steps and Linda, who was riding over with the team was waiting in the doorway on the common room. As a group the five of them headed out to the bus that was waiting for them.
Coach Bombay was standing at the door of the bus checking off team members as they got on. He didn't seem to look to thrilled at the fact that most of them were running late. As the group approached the bus he marked off Linda and Charlie on his list and then noticed Adam.
"Take this," Bombay said handing Charlie the clip board and leading Adam a little bit away from the bus to talk to him. Charlie marked off Connie and Julie's name as they got on the bus and then looked to see if they were missing anyone else. Everyone else was accounted for so Charlie got on the bus. Meanwhile Bombay was talking quietly with Adam.
"You don't need to come today, Adam. I know about what happened last night."
"How?" Adam asked. He had been planning on telling the Coach later this afternoon after the game. In a way he was relieved that he wouldn't have to.
"Your dad talked to me twice yesterday. The first time was right after practice yesterday. He wanted me to drop you from the team because he didn't want you to play on JV. I told him I couldn't do that. He then called me after his 'conversation' with you and told me about what happened. I almost wish I had agreed to do what he wanted and drop you from the team because then you wouldn't have had to go through that."
What Gordon didn't tell Adam was that Philip Banks had blamed everything on Gordon during that second conversation. Philip Banks had told Gordon that he had corrupted his son. That Gordon had ruined his son's respect for tradition and responsibility to his family. Gordon knew that what Philip Banks had told him wasn't true but he also knew that there was need for Adam to know about it. Adam had been hurt enough through all of this.
"I'm glad you didn't," Adam told him. "I want to be a part of this team. I need to be a part of this team."
"I never meant to cause problems between you and your father Adam. If I had known then that it would come to this I would have withdrew my protest and left you on the Hawks."
"I'm glad you didn't," Adam told him. "I did resent you at first for taking me away from the Hawks. I thought they were my friends. It was a family tradition to skate for that team. But then after the first couple of games I found that I liked skating with the Ducks better and Charlie and the others have proven to be better friends than any of the Hawks ever were."
"What's your mom's position on all of this?"
"I don't know. I haven't talked to her yet," Adam admitted.
"You need anything you just let me know," Bombay told him. "And if you want to rethink your decision I want you to know I'll understand. I don't want you off this team but you need to do what is right for you no matter what that is."
"Thanks, Coach."
"We got a game to go win," Bombay said putting his arm around Adam's shoulders and heading for the bus.
The ride to Jefferson Academy was unusually quiet. The Ducks whispered in small groups but there was none of the loud team conversations that normally went on. Adam sat at the front of the bus in the seat across from Bombay quietly looking out the window. Bombay was worried about his skater but he knew he had to let Adam choose when he wanted to really talk about what he was feeling. He wished Hans were still here. Hans would have known what to do. With Hans gone, Bombay no felt the obligation to be to his skaters what Hans had been to him and these kids after him. A friend and a mentor as well as their coach.
The first period of the game did not go well for the Ducks. The Jefferson Flames were a rough team and Charlie and his teammates ended up spending as much time on the ice as they did on their skates. Bombay kept either Fulton or Portman out on the ice during the whole period. The Flames were able to take a lot of shots at the Duck's goal but Julie was able to stop all but one so the period ended Flames one and Ducks zero.
During the second period Adam finally found a weakness in the Flames defense which he pointed out to Bombay who passed it along to his skaters. After that the Ducks had more success at mounting an attack against the Flames goal. By the end of the second period they were able to tie the game at two to two.
However, all the Ducks were sore and bruised from the hits they had been taken from their opponents. They were all looking forward to the break between periods.
"You guys are doing great out there," Bombay told them in the locker room.
"Yeah, but we need to beat this team to make league play-offs," Russ said. Even though they had several more regular season teams if the Ducks lost today they could when the last games of the regular season and still not make play-offs.
"I think you guys are up to it," Bombay told them. "These guys are no tougher than Varsity and you guys won that game. You guys can beat tough teams like these guys because you play smarter hockey."
"Yeah," the Ducks said Bombay's words lifting their spirits.
As the third period started, Charlie went down on the face-off and the Flames immediately scored another goal. As Charlie got up and got set up for the next face off he put a look of determination on his face. He was determined not to let that happen again. As the referee blew his whistle and dropped the puck Charlie got the puck and passed it off to Guy sending his opponent down to the ice this time.
It took them longer but the Ducks eventually scored another goal tying the game once again. The next face off was won by the flames again. After about four minutes of the puck down in the Ducks defense zone and three blocked shots Russ finally iced the puck to get it out of their zone. They switched players putting fresh players out on the ice for the Flames' next attack. It was Guy who got a hold of the puck by intercepting a pass taking the Flames by surprise. He took the puck across center ice and then passed the puck to Charlie who scored a goal. It was the last goal of the game and the Ducks won it four to three. The Ducks were in the league play- offs.
"Great game today guys," Bombay told them on the bus trip home which was already noisier than the ride their had been. "I don't want you guys to let down now even though we have a place in the play-offs. You guys have three more regular season games left and I'd like to see you guys win all three of them," Bombay said which received a round of cheers.
Back at Eden Hall the Ducks put their stuff in their rooms and then went their separate ways for the evening. Charlie, Linda, Guy and Connie went out on a double date. Luis and his girlfriend went to the movies and Julie and Scooter were getting together. Portman, Fulton, Ken, Russ, Dwayne, and Averman all went to the arcade. Goldberg went to the library to work on a report that was due the following week. Adam hung around the dorms. He thought about calling his mother a couple of times but couldn't bring himself to do it. Steve came into the room before too long and Adam started telling him about what had happened the night before.
Sunday morning Adam was out on the steps of the dorm at nine o'clock. He had a physical therapy session that morning at nine-thirty and his mother was suppose to pick him up in ten minutes. After Friday night he wasn't sure that she was going to show up. Scooter had told him the night before that if she didn't show up to give him a call and he'd drive him to the session.
At five minutes after nine though he saw his mom's car pull into the parking lot. She pulled the car up to the curb in front of the dorm and as Adam stood up from his place on the steps she got out of the car and rushed over to him. She gave him a hug and Adam didn't resist her.
"I love you," she told her son. "Your father should've never tried to make you quit the team but he's set in his ways. But I told him that I wasn't going to go along with him in this and that I thought he was wrong."
This was the first time Adam had ever seen his Mom go against his Dad. She usually just went along with her husband. He knew she wasn't going to be able to change his Dad's stance in the matter but at least he knew now that he still had his mother to lean on.
"If we don't go, we're going to be late," Angela Banks finally said letting go of her son.
After the session mother and son went out for lunch. Adam told his mom about the game the afternoon before and that the Ducks were now for sure in the league play-offs. They talked about a lot of things that afternoon but neither of them mentioned Adam's father.
The next week was fairly uneventful for everyone at Eden Hall. The Ducks won their game on Wednesday night. On Friday night there was a JV/Varsity double header at Eden Hall. Both Eden Hall teams won their respective games.
On Monday Bombay took Adam to the doctor appointment that was scheduled after Adam's classes. Mrs. Banks had something to do that afternoon and had asked Adam to find another way to the appointment. After examining Adam's knee the Doctor called Bombay into the exam room and gave them good news. He was clearing Adam to practice as long as Adam took it easy and didn't skate the entire practice non-stop. He also didn't want Adam in any scrimmage game feeling that even a practice game was taking too much of a chance of re-injury at this point. Adam asked if he would be able to skate in the final regular season game next Monday and was told it was too early to make that decision.
They were running close to the Ducks practice time by this time as Bombay pulled his van up to the curb outside of the dorm. Adam hurried up to his room and quickly grabbed his stuff. By the time they got to the arena most of the Ducks were already out on the ice.
"Just get ready and come join us," Bombay told Adam as they entered the arena.
As Bombay head over to the rink Adam made his way to the locker room. Charlie, Dwayne, and Guy were still in the locker room finishing lacing up their skates. Adam sat his stuff down next to Charlie and started getting ready for practice.
"You're skating today?" Charlie asked.
"Yeah. The doctor cleared me this afternoon."
"That's great," Dwayne said.
"What about games?" Guy asked.
"I haven't been cleared for the games yet," Adam said "but the doctor didn't say I definitely wouldn't be able to play next week so there is a chance."
"Well, see you out there," Charlie said. "If we don't get out there Bombay is going to have us doing laps for being late."
Charlie, Dwayne and Guy left the locker room and Adam finished getting ready for practice. When Adam joined his teammates on the ice they were doing a shooting drill. Adam was quickly worked into the rotation and Adam quickly found out how out of practice he was. Both Julie and Goldberg were able to stop all of his shots. Bombay told him not to get discouraged that it would come back to him.
Halfway through practice Bombay split them into two teams for a scrimmage game which ended Adam's practice. Although he wouldn't have admitted it Adam was glad. He was already worn out from the first half of practice even though Bombay had made him sit out a couple of times for a short break.
Throughout the week practices got easier for Adam. On Friday, Bombay split the team into small groups to work on different things. He paired Charlie and Adam up for some one-on-one work with Julie serving as a goalie. Adam was still frustrated with how he was playing. It seemed like every time he had the puck Charlie managed to steal it away from him. The one time he was able to take a shot Julie was able to block it. And he did no better skating defense against Charlie either. The only thing that made him feel a little bit better was the fact that Julie was blocking all of Charlie's shots too.
Charlie could tell that Adam was starting to get frustrated and he couldn't blame him. Charlie had to admit to himself that if he were in Adam's place he would probably be getting frustrated too. He thought about going easier on Adam but then decided against it. If Adam figured out he was doing it Adam would be mad at him.
Bombay interrupted them at that point. He took Charlie aside first and talked to him and then did the same thing with Adam. He then had Adam try offense again with Charlie being defense. Charlie wasn't sure how it happened but somehow in trying to get the puck away from Adam he tripped him. When Adam went down he hit the ice hard.
"Adam are you okay?" Charlie asked as he quickly knelt down beside his teammate. As Bombay came over to both of them Charlie could see that Adam still had his eyes opened but he didn't move or say anything for a few moments. Then he slowly started to push himself up off the ice. Charlie and Bombay both helped him to his feet.
"Are you okay, Adam?" Bombay asked him.
"Yeah," Adam said nodding. " I just got the wind knocked out of me. I'm fine."
"Okay but why don't you go sit down for a few moments" Bombay told him.
Adam just nodded. Sitting down didn't sound like a bad idea. Charlie skated to the side of the rink with him. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to do that," Charlie told him.
"I know," Adam told him. If he had been skating on varsity and that had happened he would have had his doubts but not with Charlie. "I'll be fine," Adam told Charlie indicating to him that he should go back out and join the rest of the team. Bombay had called all the groups in together at center ice.
Bombay quickly had the Ducks working on a drill together as a team. After about five minutes Adam went out and joined them. The rest of the practice was uneventful.
Though the Ducks didn't have any official practices over the weekend Adam still found time to practice both on the ice and on roller blades. Sometimes he practiced on his own and other times a few of the other Ducks were with him. Charlie was starting to worry that Adam was pushing himself to hard but when he mentioned his concern to Adam, Adam brushed him off.
Adam was not cleared to play in the game on Monday night. The doctor told Adam he didn't think it would be safe yet but in actuality it was Bombay's doing that Adam was not cleared. Bombay had talked with the doctor earlier in the day and asked him not to clear Adam. Bombay had seen Adam practicing over the weekend and shared Charlie's concerns about Adam pushing himself to much. He figured that if Adam wasn't cleared to skate in the game then at least Monday was one day that Adam would be forced to take a break from the practicing. The doctor assured Adam that he would be cleared for the first play-off game.
The Ducks won their last regular season game two to zero. It was also the last game to be played before Thanksgiving break which started on Wednesday. The playoff games would start on the following Tuesday when the students returned from the holiday break.
At Tuesdays practice, the Duck's last practice before the Thanksgiving break, Bombay split them up into two teams and let them play a friendly game against each other. Instead of being a coach Gordon put on Hockey gear and joined them giving each team an alternate.
At the beginning of the game Adam found himself making a lot of stupid mistakes. At one point Bombay told him to relax and have fun. Once he took that advice Adam started playing much better.
Somewhere along the line they lost track of the score. It didn't really matter anyways. The Ducks were having fun and it was a good way to end things before everyone went home for the Thanksgiving holiday.