Up and Coming
Chapter 34
I glanced at the highscreen hanging above center ice. The time read 1:07, and I casually made my way to the open doors leading off of the ice.
I stepped off of the ice, and headed down the tunnel, holding out both arms to high five fans.
"Jake!" Called an equipment manager. "Need anything?"
I shook my head, and handed him my helmet and gloves, before heading down the tunnel to the dressing room.
I entered the room, and sat down at my stall, setting my stick down on the left of my stall. I bowed my head, and focused on the game ahead.
I suddenly remembered my promise, so I grabbed the flip cam, and walked outside into the hallway.
"Hey everyone. How are you? I am back outside the dressing room after warmup, and we're just getting ready for the game. It's exiting. A bunch of people are going to be watching this in 15 minutes on TV, and the arena is packed. Just thought I'd check in. I'm gonna go and play this game. We'll see you after." I turned the camera off, and headed back to my stall.
I sat down, and bowed my head again, trying to think about my role in the upcoming game.
"Jakie! You're our striker!" Called Dustin, and I nodded without looking up.
It was tense in the room, with everyone hoping to perform well in our season opener.
The door opened, and Darryl came into the room, clipboard in hand.
"OK boys." He began. "We're gonna play this game aggressive. We're going to spend all of our time in the offensive zone. Don't expect them to just give us the puck though. We need to play a full 60 minutes on the attack. Is that clear?"
I nodded, and there was a general mumble of agreement in the room.
"Alright!" Darryl said. "Let's go out there and win a hockey game! We are starting Dustin Brown, Anze Kopitar, Jake Belanger, Drew Doughty, Slava Voynov, and Jonathon Quick! Let's go men!"
I clapped along with my teammates, and we filed out into the hallway. I got my helmet and gloves from the equipment manager, and followed Jon down the tunnels to the ice.
There was a large stage at center ice, and there were spotlights of many different colors pointing at it.
I took a run at the ice, and my skate blades dug in hard. I heard the boos from the Minnesota fans, and I did a loop of our zone.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to tonights game, a season opener, between the Los Angeles Kings," The PA announcer said, to a chorus of boos. "And your, Minnesota Wild!"
The arena exploded into cheers, and the spotlights focused on the Wild's entrance.
"Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome your 2013-2014 Minnesota Wild!" The PA blared, and I saw the players in the tunnel, ready to hit the ice. "On defense, from Baudette, Minnesota, number 2, Keith Ballard!"
Ballard skated to his blueline, and saluted the crowd.
"On right wing, from Weymouth, Massachusetts, number 3, Charlie Coyle!" The announcer continued.
"Is this the delay?" I asked Mike.
"Nope." He answered. "It can't be."
I stepped off of the ice, and headed down the tunnel, holding out both arms to high five fans.
"Jake!" Called an equipment manager. "Need anything?"
I shook my head, and handed him my helmet and gloves, before heading down the tunnel to the dressing room.
I entered the room, and sat down at my stall, setting my stick down on the left of my stall. I bowed my head, and focused on the game ahead.
I suddenly remembered my promise, so I grabbed the flip cam, and walked outside into the hallway.
"Hey everyone. How are you? I am back outside the dressing room after warmup, and we're just getting ready for the game. It's exiting. A bunch of people are going to be watching this in 15 minutes on TV, and the arena is packed. Just thought I'd check in. I'm gonna go and play this game. We'll see you after." I turned the camera off, and headed back to my stall.
I sat down, and bowed my head again, trying to think about my role in the upcoming game.
"Jakie! You're our striker!" Called Dustin, and I nodded without looking up.
It was tense in the room, with everyone hoping to perform well in our season opener.
The door opened, and Darryl came into the room, clipboard in hand.
"OK boys." He began. "We're gonna play this game aggressive. We're going to spend all of our time in the offensive zone. Don't expect them to just give us the puck though. We need to play a full 60 minutes on the attack. Is that clear?"
I nodded, and there was a general mumble of agreement in the room.
"Alright!" Darryl said. "Let's go out there and win a hockey game! We are starting Dustin Brown, Anze Kopitar, Jake Belanger, Drew Doughty, Slava Voynov, and Jonathon Quick! Let's go men!"
I clapped along with my teammates, and we filed out into the hallway. I got my helmet and gloves from the equipment manager, and followed Jon down the tunnels to the ice.
There was a large stage at center ice, and there were spotlights of many different colors pointing at it.
I took a run at the ice, and my skate blades dug in hard. I heard the boos from the Minnesota fans, and I did a loop of our zone.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to tonights game, a season opener, between the Los Angeles Kings," The PA announcer said, to a chorus of boos. "And your, Minnesota Wild!"
The arena exploded into cheers, and the spotlights focused on the Wild's entrance.
"Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome your 2013-2014 Minnesota Wild!" The PA blared, and I saw the players in the tunnel, ready to hit the ice. "On defense, from Baudette, Minnesota, number 2, Keith Ballard!"
Ballard skated to his blueline, and saluted the crowd.
"On right wing, from Weymouth, Massachusetts, number 3, Charlie Coyle!" The announcer continued.
"Is this the delay?" I asked Mike.
"Nope." He answered. "It can't be."
