Once again I don't own anything… Thanks so much for my reviewers: Beautyqueen321 and meadow567- it means a lot - hope you like this chapter!
"I want you out there today Hailey," I heard Herb tell me. "But what am I going to do?" I questioned. "Play hockey and I already have gear that I rounded up for you." "But Herb, I…" "I saw you skating yesterday; it's like riding a bike." I realized that no matter how much I argued with him, I was going to loose, so it looked like I'd be on the ice today. I suited up and went to find Herb, when I did finally reach him he handed me a helmet and told me to put my hair up. The helmet must have been new because it had a clear shield on it. I slipped it on just as players emerged from the locker rooms. I stretched with the guys and did warm ups, nobody really spoke to me.
"Alright boys, we're going to split up and run a scrimmage." Herb said, and then he called off names then looked at me and told me to go to on Rob's team, but told me to stay onto the ice. Herb called five other guys out onto the ice; it was going to be three-on-three. I was with two defensemen- Ken Morrow and Mike Ramsey. We were against Jack O'Callahan on defense and John Harrington and Dave Silk. I had memorized each player's file last night along with which University they went to and position that each one played- needless to say I did my homework last night. I looked at the guys on my team as they looked at me; they figured I was going to face off so I wasn't going to argue. I skated to the center to meet Dave. I was a bit hesitant I hadn't played an actual game of hockey in at least three and a half years. I looked at Herb then looked at Dave; he smirked knowing I was nervous.
Herb threw down the puck to the ice, I went for it and managed to get the puck, I skated around Dave and skated hard towards the goal, and Jack was coming directly at me so I glanced back real quickly and passed back to Mike. I skated back around the goal, the opposite team was trying to cover Mike and Ken, and so I was able to sneak right behind John and waited. Ken saw me and fired it a little to the left of me so John couldn't intercept it. I turned around and fired it in the goal. It was my first goal in years, so I was proud of myself. Ken and Mike slapped my helmet and told me good job, I only smiled. I went back to face off against Dave again. This time he won the puck and slammed me down to the ground. I got up and brushed it off, I just scored a goal against him he was trying to get me back. He continued to skate, Ken picked him up and Mike covered Dave. Ken stole the puck and fired to me, Jack was the only one by me and I took it around the goal to settle it down. I passed it to Mike; Ken was cutting in the middle of the ice. Jim Craig, the goalie pointed out the cut and Jack went to cover him.
Mike just skated backwards, settling the play down. Once again I snuck up behind the defensemen (this time it was Dave) Mike saw me and went to pass as he wound up and hit the puck, Ken went for it I was skating around slowly trying to set something up. Ken was about to pass it back to Mike when I yelled I was open. "Here, here!" I slapped down my stick saying I was open. Out of no where Dave had gotten some serious speed, and set out for me. He didn't tackle me; he literally picked me up and ran me straight into the goal, and not just the net, the post. When I hit I heard a loud crack, now I lay on the ground in serious pain.
"Stay down there where you belong dog." He said to me, and then skated away. Jim bent down. "Are you ok man? He shouldn't have done that." He told me. Ken, Mike, Coach Craig and Herb were skating to help carry me off the ice, John and Jack too. I pushed myself up, stood; my anger had grown to a max. I understand just pushing me to the ground but he picked me up and smashed me into the goal. I picked up my stick and took one step, my back hurt like hell but he was going to get what he deserved. I built up momentum and shoved him with enough force to send him sailing into the boards. He turned around and I glanced at him I started to skate to try and stretch out my back. Ken and Mike skated to me.
"Man, are you ok?" Mike asked, I shook my head no and skated away from them. I heard skating from behind; he was sprinting to come tackle me. I glanced behind me and saw that he was coming from the back. When he went to tackle me I bent down and when he hit me stood up and push him up. He flew over me, not even touching me once and sailed onto the ice, hard. I skated over as it was his turn to wince in pain.
"Paybacks a bitch," I said. He popped up and punched me, as I hunched over he kneed my back, knowing it hurt like hell. I punched him square in the face sending his helmet flying, and then I elbowed him in the face. I kneed him in the stomach and punched him again sending him down. He grabbed my skate and pulled it out from under me. We both lay there panting, hurt and wincing; he was on his back and I on my stomach. I didn't move I was too afraid I had broken something; I knew at least something was sprained. As I heard Herb, Craig, my dad and the rest of the players skating up I yanked off my helmet and shoved it on the ice. I put my head down on the ice, the right side laying on it, my dark hair spread out all over it.
"Hailey," He said. "Hi papa," I said not moving my head. "What did you do? You think anything's broken?" He asked. "No but I didn't want to take that chance," I told him, he nodded, flipped me on my back and checked my vitals. "Go check on him, I'm fine." I somewhat lied to my dad, he left as Herb and Craig finally came over to me. "Hails what am I going to do with you?" Herb asked. "Well for one you can help me up," I replied, smiling. Herb grabbed my left arm and Craig grabbed my left arm and they both pulled me up. I bit my bottom lip to keep from screaming. I limped with my left foot, as Herb helped me off the ice. "I put you on the ice for not even half an hour and you already kick the shit out of one my forwards, Hails." I laughed at his statement. "I tried to warn you," I smiled.
Rob watched as both this 'new player' and Silk fought. "Ten bucks on Silky," Phil Verchota said. "Double or nothing on the new guy," Mark Johnson bet. "Deal," Verchota said. As soon as Dave's helmet flew off everyone's jaw dropped. The new guy just elbowed Silky for the second time, he went down. "Good, I can buy more beer tonight," Johnson said proudly. Johnson yanked the skate right out from under this new kid, and went down hard. "Looks like I'll be getting that extra pitcher." Phil announced.
"Neither of them is moving… that can't be good." Buzz Schneider said, everyone stood up and started to come out on the ice to check the two players that were down. "Dude, that's not a dude!" Verchota announced. They all watched as the two coaches helped up this new player, except he had dark long hair, with soft facial features. Herb helped her off the ice, after taking a beating she laughed at something. "Hailey?" Rob asked confused. "You know that chick?" Johnson asked.