2008

I sat on the plane as it hovered over Pittsburgh, my new home. Earlier today in the trade deadline Atlanta decided to trade me to Pittsburgh for some new guys. Honestly I didn’t mind though. A new city, new team, and new team mates was something I needed. I had been on the Atlanta Thrashers for three seasons and a change of scenery for a new team would be a good experience. It wasn’t that I didn’t fit in; it just wasn’t my style of hockey.

Pittsburgh wanted me to help them with their play off run. They had a tough first part of their season so they traded for me to help get them right on track. They had also fired their coach and hired an intern head coach, Coach Byalsma.. I had always wanted a Stanley Cup so I was ecstatic to think that they thought I could turn their team around.

One of the best things that came out of the trade though was that I was finally away from my, well to put it nicely, psycho girlfriend Stina. After me and Stina broke up she constantly followed me. Everywhere I went she was there. She even once smacked my friend in the face thinking she was my new girlfriend.

Stina wasn’t always a psycho. She used to be a very nice girl. She was easy to get along with and didn’t mind my schedule. It was always hard to find a girl that didn’t mind that I’d be gone a lot or a girl who’d want to travel with me. I met her in Detroit when I played against the Red Wings. You might be saying what the hell you picked up a puck bunny? Well she wasn’t like those girls. She wasn’t looking for a hockey boyfriend at the time even. I just met her at a bar and we hit it off. Hell she didn’t even know who I was until a girl ran up to me screaming for an autograph.

Stina was beautiful from the inside out. Yes I know I sound like a sap but it’s true. She was always kind, thoughtful, and sweet. She did have a killer body though. She was a short petite girl. Her blonde hair went halfway down her back and had piercing blue eyes that reminded me of the sky. If you haven’t guessed it by now she was Swedish.

I sighed as I closed my eyes trying to forget her. Part of me wishes we didn’t break up but the other part is glad that we did. Her psychoses was starting to really annoy me and I was too sweet to get a restraining order on her. I honestly felt like I was starting life over with coming to Pittsburgh.

“Please buck your seat belts and put your trays in an upright position. The captain is getting the plane ready for landing.” The flight attendant announced as she walked by the rows and rows of seats making sure everyone was buckled in.

She gave the pilot a thumbs up sign and he began to descend the plane towards the runway. He steadied the plane to a straight line and I felt the wheels touch the ground sending us bouncing down the runway. Finally he pulled to a stop and I grabbed my bags before exiting the plane.

“Marian Hossa. Is that you?” a voice called out to my left as I picked up my luggage from the converter belt. I spun around and noticed a young girl standing there. She had to be about twenty give or take a year. Her short light brown hair framed her thin face as her lips turned to an upward smile. I quickly nodded my head while I finished checking her out. Her nose reminded me of a ski slope, wasn’t big wasn’t small, and her light brown eyes sparkled with the light.

“I’m Mady. Nice to finally meet you! Ray wouldn’t shut up about you this morning at the office.” She chatted as she stuck her hand out for me to shake. I gave her hand a quick shake before I grabbed my luggage and followed her out of the airport. She quickly dug her jeans out of her pocket as we walked towards her shiny black Cadillac Escalade. My jaw nearly dropped. What was she some CEO or something? She turned her head and looked back and smiled as she saw me admire her car.

“You like.” She asked as she gestured towards her suv like she was Vana White from Wheel of Fortune.

“Yeah it’s amazing.” I spoke as I threw my luggage into the trunk as she climbed into the driver’s seat.

“Thanks! I’ll have to make sure I tell the owner when we see her. Speaking of her…” she started as her phone began to ring.

“Hello?” Mady answered as I sat in the car. She quickly pulled out of the spot and sped off down the road. I grabbed my seat belt as fast as I could and strapped it across my body. Honest to god she was a terrible driver.

“Well the keys were on the counter…” she started before a shrill voice screeched through her phone. I couldn’t help but laugh at Mady’s face. Her lips pulled up and her nose scrunched and her eyes even shut for a second.

“Ow! Now you are paying for ear surgery. Be ready in 5 I’ll pick you up. And grab our bags no sense in going home twice.” She said before she hung up and tossed her phone in the back seat.

“I’m guessing that was the owner of the car.” I laughed as she took a quick left with the car that I was not expecting. My entire body flew to the right and I slammed into the door.

“Sorry about that. Yeah that was the owner, my room mate, and my best friend all combined into one. And there she is now.” Mady cheerfully spoke as she pulled into the driveway of a apartment complex in downtown Pittsburgh.

Her friend was hot. Pissed off at Mady, but hot. Her dark brown hair hung past her shoulders in long curls and her hands were pressed up against her hips as she stood glaring at the moving car like she could make it explode into a million pieces just by looking at it. Her long legs started to move towards us as the car came to a stop in the driveway and her expression softened. As she walked closer I could see her face more clear. She had full lips, not like Sidney Crosby now that’s for sure, but pretty, kissable, full lips and a strong jaw line that led up to her face. Her ski slope nose was just like Mady’s and made them look so alike. But the thing that most attracted me to her were her eyes. They were almost black. It made her mysterious.

“Give me my keys now.” She spoke as she rattled on the glass with her knuckled. Mady instantly shook her head and rolled down the window a bit.

“Bags. Put them in the car then you have a deal.” Mady said while attempting to keep a straight face but it wasn’t working.

“Are you really that lazy? Or do you just wanna keep my car?” she laughed as she walked towards the condo and grabbed the bags. After she finished putting them in she rapped on the glass and Mady got out and her friend took her place.

“Wow! Mady actually got the new guy home without a scratch! And even better she didn’t demolish my car! Which she took without asking.” she laughed but playfully glared at Mady as she backed out of the driveway and back onto the rode. We were going to Melon Arena they were dropping me off to catch the bus up to New York to play the Islanders the next day.

“Finders keepers!” she laughed in a sing song voice that made us all laugh with her.

“Oh! Sorry I didn’t introduce myself. I’m Danielle.” Mady’s friend spoke as she side glanced my way.

“Marian Hossa. Nice to meet you.” I spoke.

“You have an accent.” She said which caused Mady to burst into laughter.

“What is so funny?” Danielle asked as she threw Mady a perplexed look through the mirror.

“You had an accent when you said accent...” she laughed as Danielle just flipped her off and continued driving.

“As I was saying before I was rudely interrupted you have an accent so I’m guessing you aren’t from the United States. Where you from?” she asked. I could tell she was genuinely curious.

“I’m from a country in Europe called Slovakia. It’s pretty nice there. I do miss it.” I said as all the thoughts from home flooded my mind. I thought about the rolling green hills, the mountains, and the ponds back home I used to play the Stanley Cup Finals against my brother Marcel.

We sat in silence for most of the trip except when Mady would yell out asking if we were there yet which would make Danielle shout back no. They were very amusing. Mady was the overly funny one while Danielle was more reserved but funny at the same time.

“ARE WE THERE…” Mady started before Danielle slammed the brakes on in a parking spot at Mellon Arena.

“WE ARE HERE! NOW OUT!” Danielle shouted before storming out of the car and began pulling luggage out of the car. Mady stifled a laugh as she followed and grabbed her bags.

“You girls go on the trips?” I asked as I grabbed my bags and Danielle’s. She began to insist she take hers but I started walking away with both of ours leaving her with no choice but to follow.

“Sometimes. Mady is going out with Jordan Staal and sometimes he likes to bring her. Especially when they travel to New York cause me and Mady usually go shopping. And I don’t like being in the city myself so I tag along.” She said as we began to throw our bags under the buss.

“Oh Hossa! Glad you’re here. Lets go get on the bus so you can met the team.” Coach said as he walked towards me. I nodded my head and said goodbye to Danielle and followed him onto the bus. We walked all the way towards the back where the guys sat. He quickly introduced me before retreating off the buss to make sure everything was ready for departure.

“Welcome to the team man.” Talbot exclaimed as he walked over to me and shook my hand. I nodded my head and sat down with him as everyone started back into separate conversations. Me and Max and another guy that they called Flower began talking about me being here and the new coaching change. I could tell some of the guys would miss the old player whose spot I took but I knew they understood.

“Lets go kick some Islanders ass!” Jordan shouted as he ran onto the buss with Mady and Danielle in tow to the amusement of myself and everyone else on the buss. We all laughed as Danielle and Mady sat across from me.

“Nervous?” Danielle asked as we started to walk into the building the next day for the game. I felt like it was the Stanley cup game. New uniform, new coach, new team. Hell it was a lot to take in.

“Yeah a bit.” I laughed as we walked in.

“Well you’ll be fine. I’ve seen you play before and you’re good. So good luck.” She said and with a quick smile she walked off towards Mady to find their seats. But to be honest, it wasn’t the game I was nervous about