I got up at 4 am so excited for the day. First day of training camp. First day I get to meet the team. Once I got up I decided to shower and once I got out I made sure I had everything ready, even better Charlotte wasn't awake yet. I got dressed in my old blue jeans and one of Jon's old t-shirts and got my gear ready.
After about an hour Charlotte woke up and got herself ready and I was just sitting on the bed with my laptop watching some old Olympics games for hockey. As Charlotte got her gear ready she looked over at me, "So how long have you been up anyway?" I looked up still trying to focus on the play that was happening, "Ummm... I think I've been up since about 4am." She just looked at me like I was crazy for getting up that early and I explained to her that I had gotten used to it since I normally got up with Jon when he had morning practice. As we got ready a thought went across my mind and the butterflies I had in the airport showed up again. "Hey, Charlotte... What position do you play?" I asked nervously. She looked up at me and I could tell she understood, "I play right-wing...What about you?" I sighed in relief, "Thank god. I play centre." We both smiled thankful we didn't have to compete against each other.
Once we got to the rink and got signed in my butterflies were going crazy. Everything seemed like it wasn't real. As i got geared up I was thankful I had Charlotte by my side 'cause I felt like I was shaking in my shakes, but that all went away when I grabbed Jon's practice jersey that he gave me and a not fell out. I picked it up and it read "Hey babe if you're reading this you're probably at training camp and I just wanted to remind you I believe in you and I love you." I laughed when I read it and let Charlotte read it and she laughed at it and "awwwed".
Once on the ice I felt like i was at home finally. I played hard, hit harder and had a lot more fun on the ice. Well it was fun until we had to do Herbies. We all lined up on the far line. The coach explained Herbies for those who didn't know what they were and we were off.
About half an hour later the coach finally said we can stop and asked us to go to the dressing room get back in our street close and go up to the stands so he could talk to us. When I got into the dressing room I was beat but I didn't say a thing just a few "good jobs" and "you looked good out there" to the other girls, other than that I kept my head up and my mouth shut. Once I got back into my street clothes I made my way to the stands with Charlotte and we joked and had a few laughs.
"You know you kinda remind me of Tazer when he gets done with a practice." Charlotte said to me. I looked at her and laughed. "Yeah I'm totally like Jon." I said sarcastically. "I'm not kidding." she said while we sat in the stands. "Okay ladies listen up. I know you all worked your hardest today and I appreciate that but some of you are going to have to go home." coach Jackson said. Charlotte and I looked at each other nervously. Coach named off 10 names and thankfully none of them were me or Charlotte. "Be envious of those who are leaving, because their getting off easy." Charlotte and I looked at each other and grimaced.
Days 2-6 seemed to fly by after that first day. I was playing really well and so was Charlotte and a girl named Kimberly Miller who played left-wing, we were a good line up and I think coach noticed when he called us into his office. "Well Johnson, Campbell and Miller I want you to know that I have you 3 as a lock for the team, congrats. But I also want you to know I will have you as my main first line." coach Jackson said. We all looked to each other and smiled widely. As we all were starting to leave coach called me to wait as the others were leaving and Charlotte gave me a good luck look. "Yes coach?" I said. "Amy, I really love how you play out there and I really appreciate your leadership and yes I know training camp is not officially over yet, but I want you as the captain of this team." he said very seriously. I stood there extremely shocked. I had just wanted to make the team, but be the captain!? This was crazy. "Are you sure you want me coach?" I asked nervously. He looked at me and smiled, "Amy. I know what I'm looking for in a captain and you're it. Congrats." I thanked him and left. Charlotte rushed up to me and automatically asked me what had happened. "I'm Captain." I said shocked still. We both went back to the hotel to get some rest for the next day, which we would find out who else was on the team with us.
The next day when we got to the rink coach asked us to sit in the stands. "Okay ladies. Today is the day. We have the final roster. I will start called off names. If your name is not called I'm sorry." As he called names I heard my name which made me smile and a few others I already knew would be on there. "That;s the final roster and I know it's early but I would like to introduce you all to your captain Amy Johnson." when coach pointed to me I stood up and waived to my fellow teammates and got some applauds and "whooo's". As I sat back down Charlotte nudged my side with a grin. This was one of the best days ever to happen to me.
As coach finished his speech the people who hadn't had their names called left and once he finished so did we because most of us had planes to catch back home for a bit, but mine was that night.
When Charlotte and I got back to the hotel room I got my stuff ready to leave and so did Charlotte. We both got our stuff in our rented cars and both headed to the airport. When I got their I turned in the car and got my bag checked in and waited for my flight and I texted Jon saying, " Babe I got some really exciting news when I get back to Chicago!" Awhile later I got a text back from him saying,"Can't wait to see your pretty face again!" I smiled as I read this and my flight started boarding. When I got in my seat I leaned my head against the window and slept, because when I got back to Chicago I may be to excited about the news to sleep.