The Ice Prince and The Snow Queen

Jonathan Bryan Toews’ secret is...that he...didn’t win everything…

Okay, so that’s a bland statement. Granted the man from Winnipeg had had tremendous success. So much so that it would be impossible to say that he didn’t NOT have the perfect life.

He’d won six gold medals in the Olympics with Team Canada. He’d won the Stanley Cup twice. He’d won numerous awards, including the Selke trophy and been in four All-Star tournaments. He was playing for an original six team, the Chicago Blackhawks in the greatest sport’s league in the world, the National Hockey League. And he had the most perfect best friend and boyfriend in the universe in Patrick Kane.

And as if he couldn’t get anymore special, his winning ways were quickly noted and celebrated. In the spring of 2010, a large mural of him was visible from the Eisenhower Expressway in Chicago and it received a degree of notoriety.

Following the celebration of Jonathan bringing the Stanley Cup to his hometown of Winnipeg, the province announced that they would be naming a northern lake after him in honor of his success. And on the same day, the Dakota Community Centre in St. Vital where Jonathan first played organized hockey was renamed the Jonathan Toews Community Centre. He was also then given the Keys to the City to honor his achievement and hard work ethic.

He was so much a success that after winning the Cup for the second time in 2013 that he couldn’t help himself. During the on ice celebration, he expressed his love for Patrick and how much he cared for him...and they kissed on live television. On the lips.

Patrick couldn’t say no and the Captain had won his heart.

So...What didn’t he have? What hadn’t he won?

Well, for one, he didn’t win the heart of woman. Never had. And maybe that was why he was gay. He’d never been able to keep a relationship with any female person. The trouble began back in 2002…

****

**FLASHBACK**

Jonathan Toews’ story began in Winnipeg, Manitoba, a popular Canadian city, which would one day also be famous, as the birthplace of one of the most talented offensive-minded forwards (and centreman) the NHL had ever seen, Jonathan Bryan Toews.

Jonathan was the definition of perfect, being born to Bryan Toews, an electrician at the University of Manitoba, and Andrèe Gilbert, a native of Quebec from Sainte-Marie and a managing director and financial expert for a credit union in the Winnipeg region. She’d since retired to oversee Jonathan’s media relations. And Jonathan was bilingual too, speaking fluent French and English.

The hockey player had just entered High School and had a growth spurt during his puberty years. By the time he was fifteen, he had already grown into a handsome young teenager. In fact, he had unwittingly drawn the interests of many female students. But, there was only one girl in particular, who caught his eye and captured his heart right away.

Her name was Ashia Bergeron and she was the daughter of an Irish immigrant. Her older brother Patrice played centre for the Boston Bruins and she had learned a great deal from him. Jonathan, himself had a brother, David. But David wasn’t a hockey player.


In the courtyard of a common Canadian High School in the city, Ashia Bergeron, a light skinned ginger haired girl, folded her arms across her chest and frowned. She gazed into the chocolate eyes of her boyfriend, Jonathan Toews. "Jonny, you're always staying late, to practice your skills. Why don't you give it a rest and come hang out with me for once? I am your girlfriend after all."

Ashia had a typical, mundane spirit. She was smart, nice, kind, and funny. The ideal girlfriend. Jonathan enjoyed his time with her, often inviting her to watch him at practice many times. She would often meet Jonathan by the majestic fountain in the middle of the campus, at the end of the school day.

"Ash, I promise I will hang out with you later on, but I really want to-- No! I need to practice my puck possession and stick handling. My goal is to make it to the NHL someday!"

Ashia frowned, but eventually gave in and sighed. "Fine. How about we hangout around seven then?"

"Sounds good. I'll be there, Ash. I promise!" Jonathan grabbed Ashia by the wrist and pulled her in for a hug and gave her a light peck on the cheek in kind reassurance. He rummaged around in the blooming cherry blossom foliage to the side of them, surrounding the historical fountain and plucked one of the flowers from the bush.

Ashia giggled, breaking her serious nature and pushed the young athlete away. "Jonny, okay." She pushed a strand of her flaming auburn orange hair out of her eyes and tucked it behind her ear. Her face flushed pink.

Jonathan raised his hand holding the flower and stuck it in her hair, behind her ear. He smiled, as he applied the blossom to her auburn locks. “There!”

Ashia grinned. Jonathan took her hand in his and they began to walk through the halls, heading away from the school’s centerpiece.

Before they had made it more than a dozen steps, Jonathan suddenly turned to her. "Hey! Why don't you come to the school rink and watch me? I can even give you a few more helpful pointers!?" he suggested.

Ashia bit her lip, grinning. She would love to learn hockey pointers from this talented young man. He’d already taught her how to skate on the ice without falling over. She wasn’t much of an athlete and never thought about playing any sports, but she was open to the challenge. “I wish I could, Jon, but I have to get home. I have to do English and Chemistry homework before I turn on the Ducks game. They’re playing the Bruins tonight you know?”

She gave him a massive smile. Jonathan wrinkled his nose up in playful disgust.

Jonathan's first girlfriend had actually grown up in a family that watched sports, mainly hockey. She and her family were big Anaheim Ducks fans, a pro hockey team out of Southern California. But she felt herself rooting for the Boston Bruins as well.

As for Jonathan, he had been a Toronto Maple Leafs fan. (The Jets had yet to be in the NHL) When the two teams clashed, the two would often kick start the rivalry between themselves. Jonathan's Leafs would be the ones that would mostly come out as the losers, while Ashia's Bruins dominated. They often had bets and playful rivalry stakes, such as who bought the dinner. It was an ideal relationship between Ashia and Jonathan.

They both loved each other in that cute teenager puppy love way.

Jonathan really thought he had found the one. He thought that Ashia would make him truly happy.

And she did. At the time she definitely did.

Jonathan bid Ashia farewell, watching her leave him, heading to her next class down the hall. He turned around, sighing romantically and headed off in the opposite direction.

Before he could make it more than a few strides, Jonathan collided with someone and stumbled backward. He caught himself, before he was taken off of his feet. He snapped his head up to see who or what he had run into.

His heart skipped a beat or two, as his eyes landed on the sight of what he’d bumped into.
A bright crimson haired girl shook her head. She popped her head up, tossing her curly locks backward. They bounced across her shoulders. Her brilliant blue eyes burned back into Jonathan’s own chocolate ones. She looked to be of a Greek descent with her fair pasty white skin and crystal blue eyes. She had a splitting image similar to a Greek Goddess out of the mythology stories.

“I’m so s-s-sorry!” she stammered, with a thick Greek-American accent. There was a noticeable hint of the popular sports boroughs of New York City in her accent.She brushed her hand through the wave of red on top of her head. “I wasn’t looking where I was going, Son. I’m terribly clumsy like that!”

She clutched an armful of books in her other hand, as her face flushed deep reddish-pink, blending into the color of her hair. “It’s no problem. I should, uh, look where I’m going next time!” The girl smiled, dropping her hand down and extending it out to him. “The name’s Kacia. Kacia May!”

Jonathan answered the gesture, returning it by grabbing her hand and shaking it, friendly. He was a little bit puzzled by Kacia’s sudden greeting. Kacia grinned, swaying back and forth. She had on a gorgeous purple jacket and matching scarf and wore a slimming pair of jeans.
She definitely had the American style in her clothes and her poise and posture.

“Mon nom est Jonathan Toews. Are you new here?” he greeted.

“Yeah. My family moved up here last summer from Astoria (she says “Astawia”), which is located in the borough (“bawough”) of Queens in New Yawk City!” she replied.

“Why’d you move?”

“Change of business with my fawtha!”

“Ah! Moving can be tough, right?”

“It’s not too bad. Sure, I have to meet new friends and leave the old behind, but I also get to meet people like you!”

Jonathan chuckled. “Well, Kacia, welcome to Winnipeg. I have to get to the rink right now, for team practice, but don’t be stranger, if you need any help finding your way around the city!”

“I’ll keep that in mind, Jonny. Thank you and once again, I’m sorry about the collision!”

Jonathan shrugged and walked off, heading toward the High School’s ice rink. In a fictional Canada, all high schools had a soccer field, a gym and a hockey rink, instead of the American football stadium. The young male walked away from the new girl. He liked to help other people and he always felt good doing it. He knew that a lot of the girls he aided, swooned over him, but he didn’t care; he ignored them.

Jonathan made his way past the soccer field and entered the small High School ice arena. He spotted his teammates and waved to them. They waved back. He felt like a popular kid, but he could care less, as long as he was happy and could play hockey.

He made his way to the locker room, where the remaining team was. He grabbed his equipment, laced up and walked down the tunnel toward the ice rink. He hopped onto the ice for the daily after-school practice. He skated around, stretching and warming up his legs, in a normal mundane routine.

As he passed by the boards at the far end of the rink, he spotted his girlfriend, Ashia Bergeron, in the seats. She smiled at him, as their eyes met. He smiled back to her and then began to milk her with his “boyishness”.

He skated backward, taking a puck into his stick and showing off some fancy stick work that would make any professional hockey player like Patrick Kane jealous. (Granted he didn’t know about Patrick yet...) Ashia giggled, softly, shaking her head.

Jonathan whipped around in a complete 360-degree turn and slapped the puck into the empty net. He gave her a smoldering look.

She leaned forward, “Show off!”

Jonathan smiled at her, largely. He came back to the boards. “I thought you had homework?”

“Screw Chemistry and English! I can afford to take a night off!”

“Are you sure?”

“Positive! I’ve got straight A’s anyway!”

“Then come on the ice with me! I can teach you how to whack a puck into the goal.”

Jonathan spun around and skated off, rounding the rink. Ashia stood up. She shook off her bag and raced down the stairs, energetically. She vanished into the tunnel to go get laced up. Jonathan continued to skate around. He was so excited that Ashia was breaking rules to be with him. It made him feel important.

He skated around the rink, continuing to warm his legs up.


After about five minutes, Jonathan halted in his skating and leaned against the railing of the home bench. He took a sip from his water bottle, before he looked across the ice to the tunnel.

A figure stood in the center of the entrance.

Jonathan’s heart skipped a beat, as his eyes locked on the gorgeous young ice princess, standing in the tunnel. She wore a massive Anaheim Ducks hockey jersey with one of the players numbers on it, which was twice her size and looked more like a nightshirt. Her hair was pulled back and confidence exuded from her. She flicked her head to the side and her long, luscious, brown hair flew behind her. In her hands, she held a helmet, with a protective visor on it.

She looked adorable. Jonathan found his jaw dropping, slowly.

Ashia smiled sweetly and swayed lightly in place, moving back and forth. Her cheeks flushed a bright pink color and her eyes glittered in the arena’s lighting.

Jonathan put his bottle down on the bench railing and skated over to her. He did an impressive hockey stop, spraying ice on her legs. He gazed into her eyes.

“Ash, you look amazing!”

“Thanks, Jon. So, what are we learning today?”

“I thought I’d teach you how to properly shoot a puck at the goal, hitting the four corners of the net and then the five hole.”

Jonathan grabbed Ashia’s hand and they skated out onto the ice. Ashia was not exactly a beginner. She had gone ice skating when she was a little girl and she had been given lessons at least once a month from Jonathan. She could stay on her skates and do a hockey stop. She could handle a stick and maneuver a puck in the blade. Now she was going to learn how to shoot!

“I’m ready!”

“I know you are!”

Jonathan pulled her to the blue line, at center ice. A pile of pucks sat at ready. Jonathan’s stick was on the ice to the side of the pile. He released Ashia’s hands and snatched his stick up.

“Alright, now what I want you to do is, first, grab one of the pucks in your blade and then,” Jonathan explained, as he gathered one of the small black objects on the ice into his own blade and then raised his stick in a golf swinging motion and slapped it toward the goal. The puck sailed into the goal, straight down the middle of the ice, with a tiny bit of a curve.

Ashia giggled.

“Just whack it into the goal!” Jonathan finished, spinning his stick impressively in his hand, before placing both his hands on the top of it and leaned on it like a cane.

Ashia scooped another of the black objects into her stick and moved it into it’s position. She raised her stick back, mimicking Jonathan’s stance. She brought the stick down and barely scraped the surface of the ice, targeting the puck, squarely and sending it flying toward the goal. It narrowly missed, ringing it off of the post.

She slammed the stick on this ice in anger. “Dammit!”

“Close Ash.”

Jonathan skated over to stand on Ashia’s other side, after she grabbed another puck and pulled it into position. The budding centerman placed his stick on the ice and grabbed Ashia’s stick, giving her a big bear hug. He guided Ashia’s hands and stick backward.

“You just need to keep the stick on a tighter, straighter trajectory,” he whispered in her ear, as he aided her in her shot. He got her into position and gave her a helping start, before he pulled back and she shot the puck at the goal on her own for a second time.

This time the object flew into the netting on the upper left side.

Jonathan clapped his hands, approvingly and seized his stick in his hands once more.

Ashia grinned largely. “I scored! I scored a goal!”

“Yes you did! I’m so proud of you, Ash!” Jonathan cheered. “If you keep that up, you’ll be better than Corey Perry!”

“Ha! I’ll be twice as good as Corey Perry!” Ashia boasted, sticking her head up, proudly.
Jonathan threw his arms around his girlfriend and gave her a big hug. “Yeah, you will! My Little Miss Corey Perry!”
Ashia laughed again, as Jonathan twirled them both around the rink.


Jonathan Toews walked down the halls the next day. He couldn’t be more pleased with Ashia’s lesson the other day. She had scored her first goal. It had taken Jonathan three years to master the technique and Ashia had learned in less than a year!

He found himself smiling at the thought that Ashia was a better shooter and scorer than he was. It made him chuckle to himself.

He was so lost in Ashia’s skill that he wasn’t paying attention to where he was going and he bumped into someone. Again.

“Sorry.”

“Wow, we really need to stop meeting like this, Mr. Toews,” a familiar voice spoke.

Jonathan shook his head.

It was Kacia May.

“Kacia! What a surprise!”

“I always seem to find you in a hurry I guess…” Kacia tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear and giggled.

Jonathan nervously joined her. “This time I was lost in thought, actually.”

“Ah.”

Jonathan combed his hair with his fingers, glancing around.

“Who’s the girl?”

“What?”

“I know you boys. You always have that look when you’re thinking about a girl!”

Jonathan deflated. He flashed Kacia one of his classic smiles that were so full of cheese (though not as cheesy as Tyler Seguin), she thought he’d attract mice from the school’s gutters.

“Ashia. I was thinking about my girlfriend, Ashia. She just mastered scoring a goal and it only took her about a year to actually learn it! It took me three years!” Jonathan stated.

Kacia looked at him, weirdly. “A goal? Like in soccer?”

“No, no. Hockey. A hockey goal!”

“Oh. Cool.”

Jonathan missed the clear dismissal in the New Yorker’s tone. He pushed it aside and instead they both shared a laugh. “Well, as you know, I have some place to be. I guess we can meet up again!”

“Hopefully, not by physically bumping into one another…” Kacia snorted.

“Yeah.”

“Hey, what’s your number. I can give you a text, if I have a question for you. Also maybe we can meet up some time, as friends.”

“I’d like that!”

Jonathan took out his phone, as Kacia did the same thing. She pulled up her contact list and typed in Jonathan’s number, as he read it to her. He followed up by sticking her number into his phone.

When they were both done, Jonathan and Kacia walked off from one another once again.


Later in the week, Jonathan ran into Kacia again. This time, they didn’t literally run into each other. They met up after exchanging texts. Kacia had said that she had a question for him and that it was important enough that they needed to meet up.

“So, what do you have a question about?”

“Your girlfriend, actually?”

“What about her?” Jonathan eyed Kacia, suspiciously.

“I’m just wondering what makes her so great? Is she really the girl for you? Is she the one you want to settle down with later in life?”

“Why do you care?”

“I’m kind of an expert here, Jonathan. I’m only looking to help you out.”

Jonathan took a step back from Kacia. He brushed up against the wall of the school arena’s exterior.

“Well, um, I like Ashia’s spirit and her attitude. She’s an ideal girlfriend. She’s smart, funny, willing, any positive adjective or personality trait you can think of, she is. She may not like the same team as me, but we welcome a healthy rivalry.”

Kacia bit her lip. Her blue eyes blazed, fiercely. Jonathan glimpsed the look, before it evaporated away, almost instantaneously, into a sweet, innocent, normal look.

“Well, I’m glad that you like Ashia. She sounds like a great girl.”

“She is!” Jonathan eagerly responded.

“I hope we can be friends and I can meet her sometime.”

“I’d like that. I have a game this weekend, if you want to come and see me play.”

“Um….” Kacia began.

“Ashia will be there and maybe I can introduce you. Maybe she can befriend you and help you out too!” Jonathan exclaimed.

“Great!” Kacia falsely cried out.

Jonathan again missed the tone of Kacia’s voice and slapped her on the arm, gently.

The two of them talked a little bit longer and Kacia revealed her love for the Yankees and the sport of Baseball. Jonathan revealed his family’s interest in the Toronto Blue Jays and then they got into a discussion on baseball.

At times, Jonathan attempted to bring the conversation around to talk about hockey, but Kacia would change the subject or talk about her life in New York. He missed that clue as well, but he didn’t mind. He happily listened to Kacia’s stories.

He was taken aback by all of the boyfriends she had had. Little did he know that she was keeping something from him about all those boys. And it wasn’t good.

Notes

Wow, was this one super long...eh?
Yeah, Jonny's not perfect. (Neither is Kaner) Only Nichy! Only Nichy is perfect, cause he's such a Russian cutie. Wow...we know where my head is today. Haha. Sorry everyone, just ignore this notes section...I'm unsure what to say.


Next up: End of the flashback