Nicole's P.O.V.

Once the moms trip was over we only had 3 games until the Olympics. And those 3 games couldn't go fast enough, we won 2 of them which helped but we lost the last game we had to the Rangers 4-3 in overtime. That last game sucked, we always lose before breaks of any kind and it really sucks!

Our last practice before the break was full of chirping from all the guys who made the cut.

"No, no Russia first, Canada second, Finland third." I heard Geno chirp from across the room.

"No we're coming first." Jussi responded.

I heard Olli agree with him from the stall next to me.

"Nic! Who coming in first?" Geno asked me.

"For men... Canada." I smiled at him.

"For girls you get silver. Russia gold." He chirped.

"I'm sorry G, but your girls are goin down." I laughed, taking off my undershirt.

"What ever you say." He teased.

I just rolled my eyes.

As much as I wanted to leave for Sochi I waited to pack until like 2 days before we left. I had brought all the Canada things I owned and all the new ones the Olympic committee sent me, and of course I placed my Määttä shirt in the bottom of my suitcase.

My alarm went off at 7:00 am the morning we left and I hopped out of bed, ate breakfast, and carried my suitcase to my truck and drove to the airport.

When I arrived I had to laugh at Sid who was the only guy there before me. He had no idea what to do with the normal people airport stuff like baggage claim and security.

Him and I sat down and it was nice to get to talk to him about it just by ourselves.

"You nervous?" He asked.

"Ya. A little but, I know that girls hockey is slower paced than men's." I said, "I'm just nervous about all the pressure that's on Canada."

"You get used to it. You guys have a great team this year so I'm not worried, you shouldn't be either." His optimism relieved me a little.

"Cool. Good luck. Kick ass." I smiled as I saw some other guys walking in.

"Thanks. You too."

Most of the guys sat there chirping even more, until the last guy arrived. Ugh Geno was always late! We boarded the plane and I sat down with Olli I ended up falling asleep on his shoulder as we took the 10 hour flight to Sochi.

We arrived and as tired as I was I decided to walk around the Olympic village a little. I found the Canadian housing unit, the Bolshoy ice dome, the Sahyba arena, and most importantly, the dinning hall.

It was around 5 o'clock and even though I wasn't hungry I knew I should eat so I can get my body kinda used to the time change.

I went back to the Canadian housing and got my room number and key then I headed up to my room. I opened the door and was happy to see my suitcase lying on the bed closest to the door.

"Hi, you must be Nicole." I brown haired girl walked up and shook hands with me, "I'm Catherine Ward."

"Nicole St. Claire." I responded shaking her hand, "I'm a rookie how'd you know who I was?"

"Umm you're famous." She stated, "and you're the tallest girl on the team."

"Ok." I smiled not really knowing what to do.

Just as I started to slip out of my yoga pants to put on some jeans, to go get dinner another girl emerged from the bathroom.

"Hi I'm Brianne Jenner." The dirty blonde girl said.

"Nicole St. Claire." I smiled back standing up and shaking her head.

"Damn you're tall." She said.

"Ya. I blame my dad he's 6'6"."

"You're the NHLer!" She said louder than I expected.

"Yep!" I responded, being awkward.

I took off my running shoes and put on my vans, before I asked the girls, "Hey I'm gonna go grab dinner you guys wanna come?"

"Nah I'm good." Brianne said.

"I'll go. I could eat." Catherine said, hoping up, grabbing her hoodie and walking to the door.

We walked towards the dinning hall and talked about the game tomorrow, how it's gonna suck to miss the opening ceremonies, and she asked me question after question about playing in the NHL.

"I have question." I said after she stopped talking.

"Shoot."

"Are the other girls on the team bitter because I play in the NHL?" I asked nervously, "because after I was drafted the guys on my junior team were really bitter."

"No. Not at all. We're actually happy to have you on the team. I mean you're arguably the best female player in the world." She smiled up at me.

"Ok. Good." I sighed with relief.

We made our way to the dinning hall and I decided to try the Finnish station. I had something called Karjalanpaisti which was a soup. I'm not 100% sure what was in it but it was really good. And I also got something that I think was dessert, it was called Riisipuuro and it was basically rice pudding.

Catherine and I sat with some other teammates of ours and when Shannon Szabados sat down with us and I almost fell over. She was my idol I watched her play for years, I was totally fangirling on the inside.

"Hello ladies." I head behind me so I turned around to see P.K. Subban, Carey Price and Sid standing there.

"Hey." All the girls swooned in response.

They joined us and I had to keep reminding myself I had to be nice to P.K. and Carey, considering we were both representing the wonderful maple leaf. We talked and ate for a while before us girls decided to turn in due to the fact we had a game tomorrow.

Catherine and I made our way back up to the room and found Brianne standing out on the balcony looking over the beautiful mountains.

"Wow." Was all I said as we stood there.

Maybe 10 minutes or so later we turned in.

I slipped into my penguins shirt and fuzzy bottoms, then I got into bed and realized they were not made for people over 6 feet tall.

But the last thought in my head was just 3 simple words.

'I'm an Olympian.'

***

Our first game against Switzerland was a sweep. Literally. We won 5-0 and I scored my first goal, my first freaking Olympic goal!

It happened almost the same as my first NHL goal, but this time it was Hayley Wickenheiser who passed it up to my D partner Tara Watchorn and she passed it to me, and I pulled my now signature slap shot from just above the slot.

The horn blared for the third time that game and I saw the seats light up in red and white, it was surreal. I saw my dad in the crowd standing next to some team Canada boys who decided to watch the game. Before I fist bumped Shannon he pointed to me and I pointed to him, something we've done ever since I started playing.

During the second intermission I was walking off the ice and I spotted Olli standing there all awkward in his bright blue team Finland hoodie. He smiled and waved at me and I nodded my head towards him and smiling back, knowing he must had to run here to make it in time from his team practice.

"Who's that?" Catherine asked as she looked where I was looking.

"Olli." I smiled at his name.

"Who?" She repeated.

"Olli Maatta he's my friend from Pittsburgh. He's playing for team Finland." I clarified.

"Oh. Really? He looks 12." She laughed.

"He's 19." I laughed thinking of his baby face.

"That's impressive." She said nodding her head.

"Ya."

The rest of the game went smoothly we scored 1 in the third and that was the end. The veterans on the team were happy with the win but I was completely ecstatic.

The locker room was a buzz with post game chatter until we were interrupted by captain, Caroline Ouellette.

"Ladies! Ladies! Ok, I would like to congratulate 2 girls today. Number 1 is miss Shannon Szabados for a amazing shutout win! And miss Nicole St. Claire for her first Olympic goal!"

We all clapped and cheered as Caroline gave me the puck I scored with and congratulated me one more time. I couldn't help but smile.

I showered, put on my normal clothes and made my way up to the lobby. I looked for my dad and he wasn't hard to find considering he was 6'6". I ran over to him and he enveloped me in a hug.

"I'm so proud of you." He said smiling at me.

"Thanks. That was so cool!" I said still slightly out of breath from the game, "I'll be right back."

I walked over to where Olli was standing looking at his phone.

"Hey!" I smiled at him.

"Hey!" He looked up and hugged me.

"I love you. I am so proud of you!" He whispered in my ear.

"Thanks. I love you too." I whispered back.

We separated and I smiled at him one last time before I went back to my dad.

"You wanna go get lunch?" He suggested as we walked out of the arena and into the bone chilling air of Russia.

"Sure. I was gonna eat, let that settle, then go for a run."

"Nic. You gotta take it easy. I know you're here to play hockey but relax while you can." He told me.

"I know but I'm really hyped up and I didn't sleep well last night, I was hoping a run will make me sleepy." I said.

"Ok. But tomorrow will you go and watch the alpine skiing with me?" He asked.

"Yes. I will defiantly do that." I smiled at him.

I went and had lunch with my dad and was congratulated on my goal by several more fellow Canadian athletes. My dad let me go on my run and afterward my dad went back to his hotel room and I grabbed dinner with Brianne and Catherine.

The next day I kept my promise with my dad and went up to the top of the mountain and watched a couple rounds of skiing and snowboarding.

Later that night I decided to go and watch the men's Finland game. I put on my Määttä shirt and then just a simple black hoodie. I went and sat down next to a blonde haired lady who was wearing a Määttä jersey.

"I like your jersey." I told her causally.

"Thank you. He's my son." She said, making me choke.

"Olli Määttä?" I questioned to clarify.

"Yes." She looked over towards me, "oh my gosh Nicole! I didn't even recognize you."

"Ya. I came to watch Olli." I smiled at her.

"He has talked so much about. He really loves you." She said.

"Thank you. And I don't want to be rude but can you keep your voice down. Not everybody knows we're dating and I'd rather keep it that way." I said looking at her hoping for sympathy.

"Ok. I understand your secrecy." She smiled.

"Thank you."

We sat and I told her about the game yesterday and she told me embarrassing stories about Olli when he was little. The conversations stopped when Olli stepped onto the ice towards the end of the first.

Jussi passed him the puck and he took a shot from just above the slot. It went in!

Mrs. Maatta and I jumped up and cheered while he jumped into the boards, celebrating. He looked up towards us and looked terrified for a second before I gave him a thumbs up. And then he smiled again.

"Ohhhh I am so proud of him." Mrs. Maatta beamed.

"You should be." I told her as we sat back down in our seats.

"He loves you." She told me.

I nodded and smiled, "I really love him too."

"Ok. I have to ask, how was your guys' first kiss?" She asked.

I laughed at her interest, "you want details?"

"Yes." Ok, she was forward, I like that.

"Well after I got my apartment I invited a couple guys over, one of them being Olli, and after the party died down it was only me and him." I smiled at the memory, "and we were sitting out on my balcony and he offered me his hoodie because I was cold and then I rested my head on his shoulder and then he grabbed my cheek and we kissed."

"Oh that is so romantic!" She beamed.

After a couple minutes she spoke again, "Thank you for being his dream girl."

"Well Mrs. Maatta, thank you for raising the boy of my dreams."

Notes

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