Part One

This Changes Everything

About Three Months Later

Gordon Bombay was waiting for his Ducks at the old arena, when his cell phone rang. It was Wilson, the Varsity coach, from Eden Hall. Gordon had met him yesterday, before the ceremony at Eden Hall welcoming the Ducks to their school.

"Bombay, have you given any thought about what we discussed?"

Wilson was determined to have Adam on the Varsity team. He was leaving the choice to Gordon, but now the choice was not Gordon's to make.

"Yes, but my decision still stands. Adam will stay on the Ducks."

"I don't know why you're so against this, Bombay. You of all people should know Banks' potential."

Gordon ignored the jab. He knew he had better tell Wilson about the job before he found out from someone else. "I don't know if you know this, but I am not going to be coaching this year. The Junior Goodwill committee wants me to be the director of personnel of the junior hockey program worldwide. The new coach is Ted Orion. If you want to talk to him about Adam, do that. But you should ask Adam yourself what he wants before just pulling him off of the team." Gordon knew he did not have a say in telling Ted whether or not to leave Adam on the Ducks or to put Adam on Varsity, the Ducks were now his team.

"What kid wouldn't want to make Varsity his freshman year? And congratulations with the Goodwill Games job. Goodbye."

Gordon heard the dial tone before he could say goodbye.

Knowing he could not do anything about the situation with Adam, Gordon just waited until the Ducks came. He did not know if Charlie told them the news, or he left that up him to tell the team.

Gordon did not have to wait long before the kids started showing up. He got some minor grumbles about having ruined some of their plans, but no one was really upset. Not that he was going to keep them long. But Gordon knew his news would dampen their spirits.

As far as he could tell, Charlie had not told anyone. Charlie himself was not present. Gordon wondered if he was going to skip this all together.

"Okay guys," Gordon called out to gain their attention. "I got some news for you."

"Last time you told us that Coach, you told us Banks was coming on the team."

"Shut up, Averman!" the old Ducks told the redhead.

"It's true!" Averman defended himself. Charlie came in at this statement. His face was a mask of dark emotions.

"The Junior Goodwill committee has asked me to be director of personnel of the junior hockey program worldwide." His statement was met with dead silence. "I have decided to accept their offer."

"What!" Disbelief was written on their faces.

Charlie spoke up. "He can't pass up this opportunity. Right, Coach?" His blue eyes daring Gordon to deny what he just told Charlie yesterday.

Never had Charlie been this cold, even when he stood up to him because he did not believe in cheating years ago. He did not have time to answer Charlie's question, when Connie asked one.

"Why didn't you tell us sooner?"

"I just found out it was definite two days ago. Besides, yesterday was your day."

"Yeah sure, our day." Russ Tyler snorted. "As if these rich stuck up jack-"

"Eden Hall is a good chance for all of you." Gordon interrupted.

"Who's our new coach?" Ken Wu asked in his quiet way. The entire team gazed at Gordon intently.

"Ted Orion." Gordon had hoped that Ted would have met the kids yesterday or today, but he said that Gordon needed this time with them. Gordon surmised Ted would meet them on their first day of school.

"What's he like?" asked Julie Gaffney.

"This is Orion's first year coaching. He played pro hockey a few years back." Gordon felt the need to add that so the kids would at least know this guy knew what he was doing. He glanced at Charlie to see his reaction about their new coach. All he saw was the same dark look he came in with.

"I want you all to know that I am still going to be coming back for visits and holidays. It's not like I'm never coming back." Continuing on he said, "It is going to be a change for all of you. But give Orion a chance. That was all I wanted to tell you."

Everyone got up to leave. They had come in with cheerful moods. With their coach's announcement, melancholy had settled.

Gordon looked around the arena, memories coming forth in his mind. Lost in his thoughts he barely heard someone call him. Turning around he saw Adam hadn't left with the others.

Gordon honestly felt he knew each of the kids. Which he did, but only in some things, like how they played hockey, and even their moods, as well as how different everyone was from one another. Yet when it came down to it they could work as a team despite their differences. But there were times he really did not know them, individually that is.

As for Adam, he started as an outsider on the Ducks with his history of being on the Hawks. With himself once being on the team as boy, Gordon could understand to a degree how that had been. Sometimes he had to wonder if Adam was still the outsider in ways. His friends would not deliberately push him out of the group, but it was still there. Adam was in a wealthier family then many of the others. It was not like he bragged about it. Though he did dress according to his station, Gordon knew that Adam would give all that up in a heartbeat just to have some of the things some of the other kids had.

"Yes?"

"Just wanted to wish you luck with the new job, Coach." Adam's face masked any thoughts about what he was thinking about the news.

If Adam said he was not too happy with Coach leaving, that would be a gross understatement.

"Thanks. You best go on so you can catch up with the others."

Adam turned and headed toward the doors. Stopping just before reaching the glass case, Adam turned back around. "See you around, Coach?" It was more of a question then a statement.

"Like I said, I'll be coming back for holidays and visit when I can."

Once outside the heat hit Adam with full force. August had to be the hottest time during summer. Quickly walking Adam headed to the pond. Something told him the rest of the Ducks would be there.

His dad was not happy that the Ducks had gotten scholarships to Eden Hall. But Adam did not mind at all. He was relieved that he could be on JV with his friends. He doubted he would be placed on Varsity since the Ducks were coming to the school with scholarships.

The entire team was still upset that Coach Bombay was leaving. They had not stayed at the pond long, just talked about meaningless things. The out-of-state Ducks had planes to catch within the next few hours, so they all had to get their bags before coming to the airport.

Portman, Ken, Dwayne, Luis, Russ, and Julie were at the airport waiting for their flights. The six out-of-state Ducks would be with their families and pack this week, then come back to Minnesota to start Eden Hall the next.

"This sucks." Dean Portman growled. The rest of his friends agreed. Standing up he started to pace, but continued with, "Bombay is bailing on us! He thinks this damn job is more important then the Ducks." He figured his coach said a lot of BS during the Goodwill Games when he wormed his way back into the team more then a year ago.

"Portman, calm down." Kenny said quietly. Passengers around them where beginning to stare.

Glaring down at the littlest Bash Brother, Portman's voice rose, "Calm down?"

"There's nothing we can do about it!" Luis Mendoza said angrily in return. "Coach made his choice. Besides, think how the others feel. They knew him longer then we did!"

Luis was right. The six of them only knew Coach Bombay since the Goodwill Games along with the other Ducks. They hadn't been here when the Ducks won the Peewee championship game. Nor had they been in Minnesota this past year for school.

Portman must have realized that too. He sat back down with a brooding expression on his face.

Dwayne Robertson's flight got called. "See y'all next week." He said soberly grabbing his Stetson. The others called out goodbye and watched as he headed toward his gate.

They were all fairly quiet for the next half an hour. Kenny's and Russ' flight got called next. Russ was going to stay with Ken's family for a few days before heading home to Los Angles. Both boys left with a wave to their friends.

Shortly after that Luis' flight was called. Julie just shook her head when he caught up with a blonde at his gate and started to flirt with her.

Julie had been quiet for the most part when the others were there waiting for their flights. But she wanted to hear for herself if Portman was alright.

"How are you doing now?"

Portman glanced her way, he had expected Julie not to talk to him. Without answering he just shrugged. They were not the best of friends. That was an understatement.

He would have to say between her and Connie; he got along with her the best. Connie was a tough one; she would not let anything get her down. Considering she had been on the Ducks for four years or more as the only girl, save for Julie; which took guts.

So why did he admire Julie more? Julie too had been on an all boy team in Maine. Plus she had won three, no four, state championships. Pretty impressive. No, that wasn't it. Maybe it was that she stood up to those two Iceland players in the first USA/Iceland game. Or maybe cause she did not get all bent out shape if he called her babe. Not that he would do it all the time. He would like to live to get to high school.

Her flight was called. "See you later." She said over her shoulder heading for her gate.

"See you." He returned. Even though he said it, would he come back next week? That was something to think about while he waited for his flight.

Scott Vanderbilt III, Scooter to his friends, was in the middle of unpacking his suitcase when he heard the doorbell chime. A few minutes later, Rick Riley came through his bedroom door.

Rick did not look happy.

Scooter just waited. Rick would talk when he wanted to. He did not have to wait long.

"Ian and the rest of the members of the JV aren't playing this year."

Scooter had no idea what Rick could have been so upset about. But that surprised him. What had happened to cause Rick's little brother and the rest of JV to lose their spots on the team? "What do you mean?"

"Buckley talked the alumni in giving the Mighty Ducks athletic scholarships to the school."

"Wait, you mean the team Banks was on?" Scooter had known about Team USA aka the Ducks through the Goodwill Games. He also knew through Rick that Adam Banks was going to be coming to Eden Hall. Scooter had not really known Drew Banks well, and had never met his little brother. With the kid coming to Eden Hall, it was going to be interesting. But now it looked like his teammates were coming too, which would make it more so.

Rick shot him a look. "The one and the same. This happened yesterday at the welcoming ceremony. You know, this isn't the first time those Ducks messed everything up."

What did they do?" Scooter asked. Rick shot his friend a look. "I haven't been here as long as you have." Scooter reminded him.

Scooter had only been living in Minnesota for about two years. He had made friends with Rick, Cole, and most of Varsity when he started Eden Hall as a freshman.

His family had just got back from visiting relatives in Canada for the past month. That was the reason why he had not been at Eden Hall with the rest of Varsity, when they found out the Ducks were coming to the school yesterday.

Rick frowned at some of the memories that came to mind. "Ian was on the Cardinals, one of the peewee teams, a few years back. The Cardinals were good, but the best team at the time was the Hawks. But the Ducks managed to get into the playoffs. The Ducks ended up playing the Hawks in the championship game, not the Cardinals as it should have been."

"And the Ducks beat the Hawks?"

Nodding, Rick said, "That's how they got to go to the Goodwill Games."

Scooter knew all about that. Which was one of the key reasons Eden Hall and Buckley wanted the Ducks to come to the school no doubt.

"Dad is determined to get the board to revoke their scholarships."

"And you're going to make the Ducks' lives miserable for however long they're going to be there, too." Scooter's voice had a hint of sarcasm.

Whether or not Rick picked up on it, he did not say. With a smug grin he said, "Damn straight."