Orlando
The Hockey Life - Stars VS Blackhawks
Val’s POV
It took a few hours, but I was able to pull myself together and apologize to Sergei. We talked and he explained about Mason and told me the truth and I knew I could trust him. He told me just like Evelyna had told me. He was protecting me. I had to think that he was a great guy and it had just been a learning experience. That was fine with me. I showed him my pictures and one that the two of us had taken the night of Epcot. It pained me to be looking at these, but they were great memories. I knew I’d made a friend and I told Sergei that.
Reassuring myself and repeating that, I was able to feel a lot better. It was October 9th before I knew it and the Dallas Stars were playing the hot Chicago Blackhawks. I would have to apologize for destroying Evelyna’s team with its Dynamic Duo in Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane.
I knew she would be watching the game, but I wasn’t sure who she was rooting for. But I hoped she had picked me! She sent me a quick text wishing me luck. At that moment, I knew she’d chosen me. The text was great and I had an extra jump in my skating, as I took the ice. Man it felt good.
I skated around with Tyler and Jamie and happily laughed with them. I looked over to see the Hawks warming up as well. They were smiling and eager. Tyler and Patrick met up at one point and I could see they were exchanging friendly hellos. Jonathan and Jamie met up, happy to see one another. And I stuck to hanging with my mentor. Sergei made sure that I knew what I was doing and then the start of the season began.
The puck dropped and unfortunately Jonathan Toews beat Tyler Seguin to win the faceoff. But we came out hard and strong. We made them know that the Dallas Stars weren’t a team to mess with this year. We were legit Cup contenders!
This was my life. The NHL hockey life and it was a blast. As much fun as I had had in Orlando, Florida, it was awesome to be back in Dallas on the ice. I was thankful that I had been given such a chance to play with the big boys in the big leagues.
The first period happened to be ALL Stars. We owned the Blackhawks and the scoring chances, but the score was still 1-0, thanks to a lucky bounce by a Duncan Keith slapshot and I knew it was going to be a tough and close one. We weren’t going to go away and let them run away with it. I also knew that the Blackhawks weren’t going to go away. They didn’t do that. If they were borderline average in the first, then in the second they could come out and stomp on the opponent.
But Jamie Benn told us not to give in to them. Even if they were a powerhouse team, we were just as good, if not better, than them! We could beat the Blackhawks.
The second period was even better for us than the first. Trevor Daley scored an important tying goal to put us up and that sparked energy into us. We kept on the Hawks and pounded them. And finally close to the end of the period, I had a rare breakaway chance. I focused and thought skill. I shot and managed to get us another goal and to rise on top. It was now 2-1, thanks to my goal.
(I know that in reality this was Cody Eakin’s goal, but for purposes of this...that goal is now Valeri’s!)
The celebration was praised and I felt proud. I could hear all of the excitement from Dallas fans and shock from the Blackhawks fans. A few called out, “Who is that?” And a Dallas fan cried, “That’s Valeri Nichushkin!”
We took the lead into the second intermission and we all had hope, but were once again reminded by coach not to let up or have any mental breakdowns. If we made one mistake the Hawks would make us pay and no one wanted that to happen!
The third period was pretty much the same as the first, but the Hawk brought their A game and it was an intense battle. The best period of the game and I ton of back and forth and close battles. I made sure not to turn the puck over. But about mid-way through the Hawks went to the power-play and made us pay, unfortunately. Just as we had done with Trevor Daley’s goal, the Hawks’ Patrick Sharp tied up the game once more. 2-2.
We went into overtime with still nothing happening. And it ended up in a shootout. Up first, we sent out Jason Spezza. He missed. As did Jonathan Toews and Tyler Seguin. Then the Hawks sent out their special shootout specialist in Patrick Kane. The king of the shootout as I would say. He was stellar and had the sickest hands of anyone in the league.
And of course he scored his one-on-one.
The Dallas Stars sent out Alex Hemsky. I would have loved to have been able to go, but alas, I was unable to. I was too Russian and I wasn’t perfect at the shootout yet either. I had difficulty for some reason; I wasn’t Patrick Kane yet. But I was learning and soon I would be the one challenging the Blackhawk superstar.
Hemsky lost the puck and the Stars lost the game. But I had a goal and an assist in the game, so I wasn’t too bad! I had turned the puck over a few times and appeared a little lost, but that was normal. That was natural. I was who I was and if luck was on my side, I was happy!
Even though we had lost in the shootout, it was an intense game and one no one would forget. If this was going to be the type of game that we were going to have against the Blackhawks, the fans were in for a treat. And we technically didn’t lose. We still managed a point coming out and I had helped us to get that.
Yes, this was going to be a fun season.
As I walked back to the locker room with the others, after the disappointing “loss,” Tyler came over to me and hugged me close. “You did good,” he told me.
“I didn’t do good, I did ‘well’,” I told him, flashing a smirk.
“Okay, so now you - the Russian - think that you can one-up me - the English-speaking Canadian?” he retorted with a cheesy grin and laugh.
Jamie Benn meandered over, chuckling to himself, as he scolded Tyler, playfully. “Careful, Seggy, don’t damage the poor boy’s spirit! He deserves the Cowboy hat tonight, even though we didn’t win in the shootout. Come to think of it, you were the reason we didn’t win, Segs.”
“Oh, well, you know me. I didn’t feel like being the hero tonight. I just didn’t have it in me to put the team on my back and score a hat trick AND the shootout winner.”
“I want some of that hat trick magic, Segs. You should learn to share, eh!?” I teased, elbowing the ladies’ man.
“You gotta work for it, Val.”
So I was award with the third star of the game, because I had tied it up and kept Dallas from losing in regulation. And I was commended for my efforts and play.
As I left with my teammates, I received another text. ‘Sick goal. I was pulling for an overtime or shootout for this game. Too bad Kaner’s so good. Oh well. Good luck. I’ll try to get tickets to Lightning-Stars games and see you.’
I smiled and replied with: ‘Sure. That would be great. I can’t wait. I’ll have to point you out to my boys: Jamie and Tyler.’
‘That would be great! But make sure Tyler doesn’t try to flirt with me. I’m sure he’s already made some kind of comment.’
“Hey, who’s that?” I heard Tyler’s voice pip up, behind me. I spun around to find that he was looking over my shoulder and reading my phone’s screen. “Why do they not want me to flirt with them?” He looked rather appalled and shocked.
“Evelyna. She’s not a fan of you.”
“I see. Well, I guess some women are like that.” He looked away briefly, but I knew that look and he was thinking something like, ‘I’m going to have to make her realize what she’s missing!’
I shook my head and my phone went off again with another text message: ‘Удачи. Надеюсь, что вы получите три гола!’ I translated that as, ‘Good luck. Hope you get three goals!’ and I chuckled.
I could see Tyler gazing at me bewildered. It was almost like she knew he was looking and reading the texts. I told Tyler though, knowing it wasn’t much to tell him. He nodded.
“I’m going to have to have a chat with this Evelyna person. And I promise, I won’t flirt with her. She’s all yours man. I respect that.”
“Good. You’d better. I’m gonna have to fight with you otherwise!”
We laughed and hurried to hop into the car that Jamie had gotten and pulled around to pick us up with. His black jeep.
It took a few hours, but I was able to pull myself together and apologize to Sergei. We talked and he explained about Mason and told me the truth and I knew I could trust him. He told me just like Evelyna had told me. He was protecting me. I had to think that he was a great guy and it had just been a learning experience. That was fine with me. I showed him my pictures and one that the two of us had taken the night of Epcot. It pained me to be looking at these, but they were great memories. I knew I’d made a friend and I told Sergei that.
Reassuring myself and repeating that, I was able to feel a lot better. It was October 9th before I knew it and the Dallas Stars were playing the hot Chicago Blackhawks. I would have to apologize for destroying Evelyna’s team with its Dynamic Duo in Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane.
I knew she would be watching the game, but I wasn’t sure who she was rooting for. But I hoped she had picked me! She sent me a quick text wishing me luck. At that moment, I knew she’d chosen me. The text was great and I had an extra jump in my skating, as I took the ice. Man it felt good.
I skated around with Tyler and Jamie and happily laughed with them. I looked over to see the Hawks warming up as well. They were smiling and eager. Tyler and Patrick met up at one point and I could see they were exchanging friendly hellos. Jonathan and Jamie met up, happy to see one another. And I stuck to hanging with my mentor. Sergei made sure that I knew what I was doing and then the start of the season began.
The puck dropped and unfortunately Jonathan Toews beat Tyler Seguin to win the faceoff. But we came out hard and strong. We made them know that the Dallas Stars weren’t a team to mess with this year. We were legit Cup contenders!
This was my life. The NHL hockey life and it was a blast. As much fun as I had had in Orlando, Florida, it was awesome to be back in Dallas on the ice. I was thankful that I had been given such a chance to play with the big boys in the big leagues.
The first period happened to be ALL Stars. We owned the Blackhawks and the scoring chances, but the score was still 1-0, thanks to a lucky bounce by a Duncan Keith slapshot and I knew it was going to be a tough and close one. We weren’t going to go away and let them run away with it. I also knew that the Blackhawks weren’t going to go away. They didn’t do that. If they were borderline average in the first, then in the second they could come out and stomp on the opponent.
But Jamie Benn told us not to give in to them. Even if they were a powerhouse team, we were just as good, if not better, than them! We could beat the Blackhawks.
The second period was even better for us than the first. Trevor Daley scored an important tying goal to put us up and that sparked energy into us. We kept on the Hawks and pounded them. And finally close to the end of the period, I had a rare breakaway chance. I focused and thought skill. I shot and managed to get us another goal and to rise on top. It was now 2-1, thanks to my goal.
(I know that in reality this was Cody Eakin’s goal, but for purposes of this...that goal is now Valeri’s!)
The celebration was praised and I felt proud. I could hear all of the excitement from Dallas fans and shock from the Blackhawks fans. A few called out, “Who is that?” And a Dallas fan cried, “That’s Valeri Nichushkin!”
We took the lead into the second intermission and we all had hope, but were once again reminded by coach not to let up or have any mental breakdowns. If we made one mistake the Hawks would make us pay and no one wanted that to happen!
The third period was pretty much the same as the first, but the Hawk brought their A game and it was an intense battle. The best period of the game and I ton of back and forth and close battles. I made sure not to turn the puck over. But about mid-way through the Hawks went to the power-play and made us pay, unfortunately. Just as we had done with Trevor Daley’s goal, the Hawks’ Patrick Sharp tied up the game once more. 2-2.
We went into overtime with still nothing happening. And it ended up in a shootout. Up first, we sent out Jason Spezza. He missed. As did Jonathan Toews and Tyler Seguin. Then the Hawks sent out their special shootout specialist in Patrick Kane. The king of the shootout as I would say. He was stellar and had the sickest hands of anyone in the league.
And of course he scored his one-on-one.
The Dallas Stars sent out Alex Hemsky. I would have loved to have been able to go, but alas, I was unable to. I was too Russian and I wasn’t perfect at the shootout yet either. I had difficulty for some reason; I wasn’t Patrick Kane yet. But I was learning and soon I would be the one challenging the Blackhawk superstar.
Hemsky lost the puck and the Stars lost the game. But I had a goal and an assist in the game, so I wasn’t too bad! I had turned the puck over a few times and appeared a little lost, but that was normal. That was natural. I was who I was and if luck was on my side, I was happy!
Even though we had lost in the shootout, it was an intense game and one no one would forget. If this was going to be the type of game that we were going to have against the Blackhawks, the fans were in for a treat. And we technically didn’t lose. We still managed a point coming out and I had helped us to get that.
Yes, this was going to be a fun season.
As I walked back to the locker room with the others, after the disappointing “loss,” Tyler came over to me and hugged me close. “You did good,” he told me.
“I didn’t do good, I did ‘well’,” I told him, flashing a smirk.
“Okay, so now you - the Russian - think that you can one-up me - the English-speaking Canadian?” he retorted with a cheesy grin and laugh.
Jamie Benn meandered over, chuckling to himself, as he scolded Tyler, playfully. “Careful, Seggy, don’t damage the poor boy’s spirit! He deserves the Cowboy hat tonight, even though we didn’t win in the shootout. Come to think of it, you were the reason we didn’t win, Segs.”
“Oh, well, you know me. I didn’t feel like being the hero tonight. I just didn’t have it in me to put the team on my back and score a hat trick AND the shootout winner.”
“I want some of that hat trick magic, Segs. You should learn to share, eh!?” I teased, elbowing the ladies’ man.
“You gotta work for it, Val.”
So I was award with the third star of the game, because I had tied it up and kept Dallas from losing in regulation. And I was commended for my efforts and play.
As I left with my teammates, I received another text. ‘Sick goal. I was pulling for an overtime or shootout for this game. Too bad Kaner’s so good. Oh well. Good luck. I’ll try to get tickets to Lightning-Stars games and see you.’
I smiled and replied with: ‘Sure. That would be great. I can’t wait. I’ll have to point you out to my boys: Jamie and Tyler.’
‘That would be great! But make sure Tyler doesn’t try to flirt with me. I’m sure he’s already made some kind of comment.’
“Hey, who’s that?” I heard Tyler’s voice pip up, behind me. I spun around to find that he was looking over my shoulder and reading my phone’s screen. “Why do they not want me to flirt with them?” He looked rather appalled and shocked.
“Evelyna. She’s not a fan of you.”
“I see. Well, I guess some women are like that.” He looked away briefly, but I knew that look and he was thinking something like, ‘I’m going to have to make her realize what she’s missing!’
I shook my head and my phone went off again with another text message: ‘Удачи. Надеюсь, что вы получите три гола!’ I translated that as, ‘Good luck. Hope you get three goals!’ and I chuckled.
I could see Tyler gazing at me bewildered. It was almost like she knew he was looking and reading the texts. I told Tyler though, knowing it wasn’t much to tell him. He nodded.
“I’m going to have to have a chat with this Evelyna person. And I promise, I won’t flirt with her. She’s all yours man. I respect that.”
“Good. You’d better. I’m gonna have to fight with you otherwise!”
We laughed and hurried to hop into the car that Jamie had gotten and pulled around to pick us up with. His black jeep.
Notes
Lol Tyler....it's ALL YOUR FAULT!!!!!!!!!!!! You made the Stars lose, you made Nichy get hurt and everything else! Ugh! Stop being such a bad omen!
I'm totally kidding, I actually blame Sergei! It's Sergei's fault Nichy is on the IR. POOR RUSSIAN BABY!!
Выздоравливай, Nichy. Даллас и звезды нужен. Пожалуйста, вернуться домой, чтобы каток, приятель. :D (Get well soon, Nichy. Dallas and the Stars need you. Please, come back home to the ice rink, buddy. :D)
I'd love to hear this some more: девятка! (Pronounced: Devyatka!) (I want it!)
Next up: Pin Pals and Injury...(Thanks Sergei)
Here's another version of the edit I made for the Valentine's Day chapter:
2/14/15