Steamed rolled off the ice as I stepped onto the rink for a training session. My first stride sent me gliding across the unused surface, then another and another and I was flying toward the other end. Catching the puck on the blade of my stick,  I circled around the bottom of the net my body reacting on instincts honed over years of practice. At that moment, I couldn't describe anything that I loved more than hockey. It's my passion, what I do, it has become me. Without it, I wouldn't be who I am today. Winding up, I prepare to strike the puck, to send a clapper right into the net. On the follow through, a shrill ting fell upon my ears as the puck hit the cross bar.

"Dammit!" I hissed and slapped the ice in frustration. How was I going to get to sign to any NHL team if I couldn't make a fucking open net goal?

"107.8 mpr." Announced my former coach, Jerry York as he read the speed of my shot off the speedometer, "That's about what Chara's hardest shot was at the All Star Skills Competition last season."

I didn't acknowledge him as I skated over to the bench to get a bucket of puck. Dumping them out onto the ice, I lined them up on the blue line. I needed perfection, not anything less. If I couldn't make the puck go in without a goal, how was I supposed to get the biscuit in the basket when there was a net minder in the way? Letting my desire consume me, I skated back beyond neutral ice on the other side of the rink. Inhaling, deeply, I focused all of my energy to my hips, that's where my speed was generated from before I charged toward the first puck. Driving my stick, I sent it to the empt net with a thunderous clash. Doubling back, I repeated the process again and again until I got every puck in every single time. Immersed in my training, I didn't hear Coach York's phone ring as I sent a clapper straight through the net.

"Hammer!!!"

Whirling around to face the bench, I saw him holding his phone out for me to take. I sent him a questioning scowl as I skated over to retrieve it, ripping off one my gloves and tucking it under my arm in the process.

"It's for you." The man informed me, his lips turning up into a smile at least a country mile wide.

"Obviously," I snorted as I took the phone from him and held it up to my ear, "This better be important, York. I've got training to do."

"Oh, this is very important." The voice of an older man informed me, "This is Mickayla Hammer I am speaking to, correct? You played for four years under Jerry York."

"The one and only. Unless, there's another Mickayla Hammer that I don't know about." I sarcastically informed the man, aimlessly skating around the rink, "May I ask who I am speaking to?"

The man on the other ended chuckled slightly at my tone before introducing himself, "Miss. Hammer, my name is Glen Sather, I'm the current General Manager of the New York Rangers. I am pleased to be the first to inform you that the New York Rangers Organization would like to extend to you an invitation to our upcoming training camp for the 2011-2012 season."

Digging the toe of my blade into the ice, I skidded to a halt almost dropping Jerry's phone and falling flat on my face in the process,"You're shittin' me!"

"No, Miss. Hammer, I am not shitting you. When the scouting team and I came across the stats on your profile, we were truly impressed. Your list of achievements isn't to shabby either. After watching film on you; we, unanimously, agreed that you are just the type of player we are looking for to strength up our blue line."

Clasping to my knees at center ice as Sather's words sank in, I felt my chest tighten from the utter shock that I was trying to overcome. I had never expected a team to call so soon into the off season, I had been informed by my agent that most GMs usually waited until free agent dead line to start they started to invite undrafted players to training camp. I was almost speechless, almost,

"I'm honored, sir. I can't believe that you're giving me this offer considering-"

"Considering that you're a woman?" Sather finished for me, "As far as, you could be a monkey as far as I am concerned because after John Tortorella looked at your stats an film, he declared in no uncertain terms that you could be the next Steve Yzerman."

Amazed at his revelation, I almost couldn't believe what I was hearing. I had to pinch myself to make sure that this wasn't a dream. Gathering myself, I denied that statement,

"I'm sorry to disappoint you, sir, but there's no way I could be the next Yzerman. No one can replace or become such a great like him."

"Spoken like the humble girl Jerry told us you were. He also of informed us of your involvement in the Unity Way organization and the Live United projects you participated in. Your leadership on and off the ice combine with your desire to help others are just what we are looking for in our prospects. That's why we'd love to have you." Sather told me.

"Well, Mr. Sather, when does training camp start?" I inquired, sitting Indian style at center ice.

"Does this mean that you will accept our invitation?" The man questioned back.

"That's what I am saying. So when does it start?" I asked again, wanting to get to the point so that I could find an apartment to rent, at least temporarily. The man rattled off a bunch of dates and times, but then excused himself and told me that he would email it to Coach York, so that I could have the full schedule.

After thanking him, I ended the call unable to control the smile that was spreading across my lips. Cautiously, I skated over to the bench and gave Coach York his phone back before I dashed to the other end of the rink as fast as I could and threw my hands into the air,

"I'M GONNA BE A FUCKIN' NEW YORK RANGER!!!!! WOOHOOOOOOO!!!!"

Applause and laughter filled the rink as my exclamation echoed throughout the rink. I felt on top of the world and that no one could stop me.

[i] 'The New York Rangers General Manager, Glen Sather has just announced that the club will be signing Boston College's star defenseman, Mickayla Hammer to a one year, entry level contract. The organization has yet to state whether she will start off playing for their AHL affiliate the Connecticut Whale or if she will  have a spot on their 23 man roster for the 2011-12 season.' [/i]

The T.V. merely provided back ground noise in my nearly empty downtown Manhattan studio style apartment as I attempted to finish unpack the rest of my belongings. It brought of memories of moving into the dorm my freshman year at BC, the only part missing was my roommate... Yeah, that was what I needed to make this place my home!

Tripping over a random box that I had left in the middle of the living room floor, I dashed for my iPhone knowing exactly who to call. Dialing the number, she answered by the second tone,

"Hey, hot shot, how's the Big Apple treain' you?"

Her cheery voice brought a smile to my lips and I realized that I had truly missed her. Even though we had just spent the first two weeks after graduating on a road trip with some of the guys on the west coast.

"It's amazing, Mandy! You should totally be here right now." I informed her, 

"You should see the lights! I can see Broadway from my apartment!"

"Lucky bitch! All I can see is green pasture as far as the eye can see!" She mumbled on the other end.

"You know you can come visit me whenever you want..." Pausing, I toyed with the idea of teasing her with the offer to see the sights, but i really just wanted to get to the point. The faster I asked the faster her ass would be on a plane and on her way here,

"Well, scratch that I have a better idea. There's a spare bed with your name on it. Why don't you come out here and live with me?"

"Are you shittin' me?" Mandy asked, seriously.

"No, I'm not! My apartment is so empty right now it's depressing! Plus I feel so lonely since I don't really know anyone." I explained to her, flopping on the hand-me-down couch my parents had given to me to take with me to Boston.

"I don't know, Mickie-" She sounded rather unsure of my grand idea.

"C'mon, Mandy, you're best friend. I need you here to kept my head from falling off." I coaxed her, sweetly.

"Lord knows you need me." She chuckled.

"So you'll come?" I knew I was wearing her down at this point all I had to do was play my trump and I knew I'd have a roommate by the end of the week,

"How does a free season pass to every Rangers home game sound?"

Oh, yes, now she was hooked.

"Do I get to meet Marc Staal? You know how I've got a thing for gingers." She inquired, wanting more of a reward than just season passes.

Pinching the bridge of my nose, I sighed. Oh boy, did that girl have a thing for gingers. Ron Wesley was definitely her favorite,

"Yeah, of course! He's gonna be my teammate!"

"I'm in!" She finally agreed, which cause me to squeal in delight.
 
"You're in?" I confirmed, still jumping around my living room like a kangaroo on steroids.

"TOTALLY!!! I'M COMING TO FUCKIN' NEW YORK FUCKIN' CITY!!" She squealed, "I'm gonna go buy my plane ticket and start packing. I'll txt you the details. K. Bye."

Smirking to myself as I ended the call, I ran over to my window and opened it before shouting out to the rest of Manhattan,

"MICKAYLA FUCKING HAMMER IS HERE TO OWN YOU BITCHES!!!!"

Below me several people hurdled up insults, most of which were variations of 'Shut the fuck up.' But that didn't bother me any. I was gonna be a fucking star and none of them could do anything about it!

[i] 'The 5'9", 115 lbs defenseman set several all-time records for the Eagles over her four year career as a defenseman. She dominated in all aspects of the game and is truly an extremely diverse player. She seems to have a lot potential to become a very prominent player in the league.' [/i]

The NHL network began to play clips of the Eagles NCAA  2010 Frozen Four run and the Championship game against Wisconsin, highlighting the key plays made by Mickayla Hammer.

[i] 'Yes, there is some potential there but does she have the durability to play 15- 20 minutes a game for 82 plus games if you include playoffs? To me, she lacks the overall size required to be a dominant defenseman in the NHL.' [/i] Jaffe's co-host, Mike Johnson contradicted.

[i] 'I think she has plenty of intangibles in her arsenal to make up for her lack size and even then if you look at some footage from her WHL career with the Vancouver Giants, she lead the team as a very physical player, she had more penalty minutes and fighting majors than anyone else on the team. Her time in Boston taught her to use her excellent vision on the ice to create scoring opportunities. She has been a very valuable spark plug for any team she was been a part." [/i]

"Oh my god! This is where you?!" Mandy gasped in awe of the empty canvas that I called home.Chucking at her, I shook my head and shut the door behind us, 

"No, it's your home to. You owe me your portion of last months rent!" I joke with her, which earned me her patented death glare in return.

"Bitch."

Rolling my eyes at her, I kicked one of her massive suite cases that had been stuffed full with all her belongs.

"Let's get you unpacked."

Mandy nodded, eagerly in agreement to my suggestion as we drug her bags toward her empty room.

Several hours later, we had finally gotten everything her situated and everything rearranged to accommodate her things. Posters and picture collages of four amazing years we had been roommates at Boston College now covered the previously blank brick walls. My trophies  had even found a home on top of the bookshelf I had purchased from Walmart the day before moving in. As I flopped onto the coach with an ice cold beverage in hand, I finally felt like things were coming to together for me in this city.

Being finally able to relax, I turned my attention to the plasma flat screen that was now mounted on the wall. The NHL Network was on and guess who they were talking about.... ME! For some reason, me joining the NHL is such a big deal!

[i] 'Intangibles or not, she still is up for a rude awakening when she finds herself up against some of the top forwards of the league, like Claude Giroux or Evgeni Malkin, both of whom are in the Atlantic division. Not mention other physical players such as Zdeno Chara and Alexander Ovechkin. She'll need an iron chore to survive in the Eastern Conference let alone the entire league.' [/i]

Rolling my eyes, I changed the channel to 'That 70's Show'. I couldn't take listening to them talk about how me being female and that my size who destroy me. I knew that most of my new teammates felt the same way I was determined to make them see the error of their ways!"

Notes

[url=http://www.polyvore.com/courageous_chapter_mickayla/set?id=47673848]Mickayla's Outfit[/url]

Thanks for reading!