Disclaimer - I do not own anything even remotely related to The Mighty Ducks. I only wish I had thought of them first…
Italics indicate character thought.
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With the first game of the season rapidly approaching, the Wolfpack moved to two-a-days and the players were dragging themselves home exhausted every night. It was Friday morning, 7am, and most of them were pretty sure they were getting ready to die.
"Let's go! Move!" Neumann's voice showed a hint of frustration and his pointed the stick he carried at them for emphasis. "Speed is the one place that every other team in this league has you all beat. If you don't think it's important that they all out skate you, then you are sorely mistaken!"
The team stood shakily on one blue line, all of the gasping for breath and dripping sweat. Beau and Cole, heads bowed, glanced up at each other, resting their gloves heavily on their thighs. Neumann was yelling again.
"Imagine Michigan State next week, here in our house, skating circles around you." He paused. "Is that what you want?"
"No sir!" Their yell was in unison, a fraction of the volume they were capable of.
Neumann cocked his head. "What was that?"
"No sir!" This time is boomed off the ice, the walls, the ceiling.
"Good. Now use that…and move!" He blew his whistle again.
Beau sucked in a breath and pushed off of her left leg, digging into the ice and working her arms for momentum. This was her thing. Speed was what she lived for, and it was most definitely her strength. She pulled ahead of the rest of the team, noticing Banks and Procida to her right and Lex just inches behind her on the left. Hitting the blue line and turning on a dime, she felt her lungs burning and her blood pounding in her head. It felt good to push herself hard and she didn't slow down, but skated right through the stopping point.
The rest of the team pulled to a stop and Neumann clapped. "Yes! I know you guys want this. I know you want to take down the only two teams that beat you last year. You have the skills, but you have to be willing to push yourselves and push each other." He walked before them, eyes scanning their faces. "You believe in yourselves, but you have to believe in each other, as teammates and as friends." He looked directly at Tommy, who looked away, eyes hard. Coach shook his head. "You all have worked hard this week. Consider tonight a time to think about what you want to get out of practice next week. Think about what you need to do to shut out Michigan State next Friday. Have a good weekend."
They all stood up a little straighter realizing that he had just given them the night off. He was already walking away though, and missed the quiet cheering.
Fulton pulled his helmet off, his wet hair hanging around his face. He wiped it back absently, grinning. "So, party at our place tonight?"