KNOX
The puck dropsin five minutes, and the locker room is in chaos as guys complete their pregame rituals and suit up. I’m already dressed, but my stomach’s got more twists than a pretzel. It’s been four days since our last game—four days that feel like a lifetime—and tonight, the stakes are higher than ever. We aren’t just playing for the win. We aren’t playing for personal records or team records, or even a spot in the playoffs.
We’re playing for Ollie. For Ava. For everyone who’s believed in us and helped us to get this far.
I close my eyes and breathe deeply.
Everything will be fine.
This is going to work.
It has to work.
There’s too much riding on the line for it to fail.
I can’t let Ava down, or the guys on the team.
No, that’s not right. We’re in this together. All of us, equally committed.
Well, except for Ava. She has no clue what’s about to go down, but it’s better that way.
She would have protested, told us she’d handle it on her own, but the thing is, her termination affects us too. Not only did we lose a valuable resource, but we also lost a trusted advisor, one every guy on this team invested time and energy in. Ava is more than just a mental performance coach; she’s our confidante.
“Alright, settle down.” Coach waves his hands in the universal sign for silence. “It’s been a tough week with Ollie’s accident and personnel changes on the team, but we can’t let our emotions get the best of us tonight. We need to focus on the game.” He looks around the locker room, making eye contact with every player on the team. “I want to see smart hockey. Clean plays. And when the clock runs out, I want to see the Devils running home with their tails between their legs,” he shouts, hooking a thumb over his shoulder.
A raucous agreement breaks out with shouts of “Hell yeah!” and “Let’s go!”
Coach grins and claps his hands together. “Let’s hit the ice!”
He turns to go, and not a single player rises.
This is it.
The moment of truth. We’re about to make history, but only time will tell if it’s the good kind.
One thing’s for sure, it’s going to be memorable.
I catch Hardy’s eye, and he gives a sharp jerk of the chin. The D will hold the line.
Coach makes it all the way to the door before he realizes no one is following.
Slowly, he turns to stare at us, eyes narrowed. “What’s going on? Are y’all waiting for a personal invitation?”
I stand. “Sir, we won’t be taking the ice until Ava is reinstated as the Gliders’ mental performance coach. Her termination was unjustified, and in removing her without cause, the organization has stripped us of a valuable resource.”
Coach stares at me, his face blank.
Hell, I think he might be in shock.
“Coach?”
He blinks, and then his arm shoots out, and he points to the door. “This isn’t a contract negotiation. Get your asses on the ice.”
“Sorry, Coach.” D-Vo shrugs. “No can do. You heard the man.”
“You’re really doing this?” Coach plants his hands on his hips and scans the room.
“Free Ava!” McGinnis chirps, punching his fist in the air.