“Talmadge was right about one thing,” a male voice said. “You really do know your way around a hockey puck.”
Her concentration snapped, Alex turned and stared at one of her new teammates. “Thank you…I think.”
“Sorry to cut into your concentration.” He offered a hand. “Reggie Hebert.”
Alex shook his hand. “Of course; you hit a 200-goal milestone before the Rebels were eliminated during first-round playoffs last season.”
“Wow, a girl who watches and plays hockey! I’m beyond impressed.”
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“I can’t take all the credit; Troy helped with lots of other things. I expected to see mostly other rookies during camp.”
“Even the best of us vets could use additional practice,” Reggie said. “Hey, I know some of the other guys are giving you a hard time, but don’t work so hard to prove yourself. Coach Barry thinks you’re the best rookie he’s seen on ice.”
“He said that?” Alex asked.
“Yeah, I heard him singing your praises while he and GM Bright were talking.”
“Wow…I didn’t expect so many people to welcome me with open arms, considering–”
Reggie stopped her mid-sentence. “A few of us heard about your car filled with packing peanuts. Needless to say, Troy was pissed when Pierre told him on the phone.”
“Whoever did it probably got in on the front passenger side which has a broken lock. Between Troy running me ragged since I moved from New York and then getting drafted, I haven’t had much spare time to get the lock fixed.”
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“I can guess right now it was Lenny, Marty, or Crazy Vince. To say none were jumping for joy about you being drafted to the Rebels is an understatement. They pulled a bunch of practical jokes on poor Johann Jokela last year when he came to us from Finland. Grown men picking on a teenage rookie, can you believe such shit?”
“That’s terrible!”
“Yeah, Davy and I took Jo under our wings like Troy, Pierre, and Greise are doing with you.”
“Troy’s overbearing even from Nova Scotia.”
“Be grateful the captain has your back. God knows what I’d done without his support three years ago when I joined the team.”
“You were harassed?”
“Yeah, things were tough in the beginning. Fans, the press, and even some of my own teammates derided me with racial slurs because I’m half Caribbean despite being born in Montreal. My dad’s French Canadian.”
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Alex shook her head, appalled. “Some people can be so ignorant and closed-minded. What does skin color have to do with how well someone plays hockey?”
“Nobody would blink an eye if I was on a baseball, football, or basketball team. You and I already have in common; neither is the typical Canadian, European, or whatever other kinds of white boys AHC fans are used to seeing with hockey sticks.”
“I was warned things wouldn’t be easy for me in the beginning.”
“Some dudes can’t handle you have much a gift for the game as they do, baby girl. Troy taught me how not to take all derisive comments and pranks to heart. ‘Reggie,’ he once told me, ‘People are going to have their opinions, whether positive or negative, and it won’t help you to think about them one way or the other. We are who we are, so enjoy your individuality.’ Now I’m giving you the same advice.”
“Thank you. It’s good to know someone who sympathizes with my struggles.”
A British accent interrupted them. “Any room for a second chap or did I stumble onto a private party?”
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“Davy!” Reggie welcomed him. “Come on over, man. Have you met Alex Galloway?”
“Haven’t had the honor, but certainly heard plenty.” He shook hands with her. “Davy St. Cloud at your service, love.”
“Olympic silver medalist for Team Britain and tied with Troy for most goals scored by the Rebels last season,” she replied.
Davy grinned at Reggie. “Brilliance, beauty, and athleticism. We have a triple threat rookie in our presence, mate.”
“The captain has a gift for spotting the right kind of people,” Reggie said. “First he had you brought from England and then discovered this fine lady in Vancouver.”
“Vancouver?” Davy asked. “Did you by chance play for the Venus?”
Alex shook her head. “No, just portrayed a team member in the docudrama.”
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“You were in Vancouver Venus?”
“I played Natalie. It’s a small part, so you’d probably miss me if you blinked. Troy’s friend Andy Byers was the assistant director. He introduced us.”
Davy turned to Reggie. “We definitely have to see that movie, especially now that a cast member plays on our team.”
“Yeah, I remember some snide remark Marty made about Rebels management scraping bottom of the barrel by signing ‘some actress who gave Talmadge a boner’.”
Alex drew in a sharp breath. “What?”
“Pay O’Freel no mind, love,” Davy said. “He and his mates Walton and Beaumont are a bit barmy anyway. Beaumont especially loves taking the piss out of Troy.”
“Davy got drafted because he and Troy faced off in the Olympics,” Reggie added. “Crazy Vince is the biggest dick of those three guys. Word has it he was up for captain until Halloran and GM Bright thought Troy made a better leader. Call me biased, but I agree with the bosses.”
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“My God, it’s like high school all over again, only with grown men,” Alex said.
“Another word of advice, love,” Davy warned her. “Stay far away as possible from Jax Ivanka.”
“Why?”
“He’s still stuck in nineteenth-century Czechoslovakia with the mentality that women should stay home barefoot and pregnant.”
“Ivanka’s got his jockstrap in a wad about you being on the team,” Reggie said. “He’ll probably find some way to harass you until you quit.”
Their statements made Alex cringe. “Thanks for the heads up, guys, but that’s not going to happen. Are there any other decent people besides Troy, you two, and the goalies?”
Davy eagerly nodded. “Quite a few do, love; one is Byron Brady.”
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“He’s better known on the team as Preacher,” Reggie said. “Before playing pro hockey, he was some kind of minister in North Carolina. A great Christian guy with a beautiful wife and kids; doesn’t screw around on Babs, drink or party like some of the others. I roomed with him on the road a few times. Preacher’s a down to earth and classy guy.”
“He’s a real go-getter on game day, but a good bloke once off the ice,” Davy agreed. “There should be more like him in our world. Preacher’s off for a maintenance day, so you won’t meet him until tomorrow morning.”
“Boris Furishnykov is our first alternate captain. English isn’t his first language, but he’s gradually improving. Be warned, though; Boris likes to tell a lot of corny jokes, but kids love him and Troy.”
“Johann’s a nice young lad whose mum raised him right. We keep an eye on him since O’Freel and his mates can’t behave themselves.”
“Yes, Reggie filled me in earlier,” Alex replied. “Is he here?”
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“Nope, Jo’s been out since toward end of last season with a compound fracture to his arm. The lad’s waiting for clearance to play this season which should come any day, so don’t be surprised if he shows by end of the week.”
“Hey!” Pierre called after positioning himself in the goal net. “Are we doing some practice shots or are you kids going to stand around bullshitting all day?”
Alex waved to him. “Hi, Pierre! I’m ready anytime you are.”
“Better stay on your toes, Germaine,” Reggie teased him. “I hear this baby girl’s quite a shot!”
“Let me be the judge,” Pierre replied. “She can’t torture me any more than St. Cloud already has.”
***
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Chapter 32
�
�It’s time to find you a new car,” Troy announced on the phone that evening.”
“No way; I can’t yet afford such a huge expense.”
“I can make other arrangements for financing until you get your first check.”
“Oh, Troy, haven’t you done more than enough for me?”
“A little more help won’t hurt, Al. Pierre filled me in on someone pranking you today and it was all I could do not having him strangle Walton, O’Freel, or Beaumont on my behalf.”
“You think one of them filled my car with packing peanuts?”
“I wouldn’t be surprised if all three were in on the joke. By the way, did you have any problems with Jax Ivanka?”
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“No, but Davy and Reggie warned me about him. They also had good things to say about Boris, Johann, and Byron.”
“You’ll like those guys. Preacher should be at camp tomorrow and Baby Finn’s waiting for medical clearance to play. There’s someone else you should know about, though.”
“Who?”
“Brian Donahue. He has a short temper but a good-hearted man. He racked up the most penalties last season, majority of them for fighting.”
“I don’t think he likes me.”
“What gave you that idea?”
“I tried to introduce myself and talk to him during break, but he never acknowledged me.”
“On which side of him did you sit?”
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“The right, but what does that have to do with anything?”
“That explains why it appeared Donahue ignored you. He’s deaf in his right ear from an oil rig explosion injury. He wears a hearing aid, but I don’t think it does much good. Try sitting to his left next time; you’ll likely have a better outcome.”
“Thanks. Seems I’m always learning something new about this team.” She paused for a moment. “Troy, is there any chance Brian reads lips or knows sign language? How else could he play hockey partially deaf?”
“Donahue can read lips from across a room if someone’s back isn’t facing him. As for the sign language, I think he only understands half a dozen sentences at most. Why do you ask?”
“Remember I told you about learning other languages during my acting days? I happen to be proficient in American Sign Language in addition to the three others. I could teach Brian ASL during down times if he’s willing to learn.”
“Why not ask him tomorrow?”
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“I suppose I could. What’s the worst that can happen?”
“Exactly; are there any other issues you need to talk about before we wrap for the night?”
“No, I had quite an interesting first day aside from the incident with my car.”
“We still need to discuss finding a more reliable vehicle. I’m surprised that beater of yours made it all the way from New York.”
“Some people need to make do with what we have. I learned to live within my means from scraping by as a struggling actress.”
“You can use my car until I come back to town. I keep a set of spare keys in the top desk drawer. Since you brought up your thespian past, how about we go to the Pittsburgh premiere of Vancouver Venus together? We’ll have a couple weeks to kill before preseason begins.”
“Troy, are you asking me for a date?”
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“Who better for me to enjoy a premiere with than the beautiful young former actress whose minor role helped get where she is today?”
“Not that you played a part in my present position, but I accept the offer to be your date.”
***
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Chapter 33
“Nice moves, Galloway!” Coach Dean Barry called. “I don’t know how much Talmadge taught, but you clearly paid attention.”
Alex basked in his approval as she rejoined the other rookies during morning drills. “Thank you, sir.”
“Now let’s try shooting some goals since Faust looks bored. I’ll first have St. Cloud demonstrate since goals are practically his area of expertise, and then each of you will have a chance.”
“Coach gives me too much credit,” Davy said, “but let me show you all what works for me. Ready, Faust?”
“I’ve been ready since drills started,” Greise replied. “Give me all you got, wenig Männchen.”
“Yes, I know I’m short.” Davy smiled at the rookies. “Let’s hope to see more of this chap in the coming season. Making saves is one of his strongest points.”
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“No one stops St. Cloud in practice!” Reggie shouted from the bench.
“You’re way too kind, mate,” Davy yelled back.
Alex and the other rookies looked on in amazement as Davy plowed one puck after another past Greise in spite of the goaltender’s best efforts to stop each shot.
“Who’s next?” he asked after hitting the net a final time. “Now remember, relax, focus, and aim.”
Several first-year team members followed Davy’s example. Some made goals while others altogether missed.
Alex’s turn finally came and she concentrated much as possible despite catcalls from Marty, Lenny, and Vince. Her first attempt sent the puck flying and struck Greise’s helmet.
Laughter emerged from the sidelines.
“Oh my God!” she cried. “I am so sorry, Greise!”
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“One fine example why women shouldn’t play in the AHC,” Jax howled. “Hey, Galloway, puck’s supposed to go into the net, not bounce off a goaltender’s head!”
Alex glared and raised her middle finger at him.
“Just say when and where, fena.”
“Nemohl jsem se dostat opilý nebo být dost zoufalý do prdele své staré zadek, Ivanka!” she countered in Czech.
“Ooooh,” Reggie said in a low voice. “She’s feisty.”
Pierre nudged him. “Looks like hockey basics aren’t the only lessons Talmadge taught her.”
Greise removed his helmet, swore at Jax in German, and glimpsed at the area he was hit.
“I’m okay, Galla,” he told Alex with a smile. “It’s not the first time I took a puck to the head. That’s why we goalies wear so much extra gear.”
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“I still feel terrible,” Alex said.
“Mir geht es gut, Galla. “Versuchen Sie einen anderen?”
“He wants me to try again,” she told the group. “Ja, Greise, danke!”
“Show us your boobs instead!” Lenny catcalled.
“That’s enough, Walton,” Coach Barry admonished him. “Either you and your buddies behave or go to the locker room. I won’t tolerate any further degrading remarks or behavior toward our rookies.”
Pierre scowled and smacked Lenny’s head.
“Ow! Damn, Germaine, I was kidding!”
“More like bordering on sexual harassment. Knock it off.”
Byron shook his head. “Y’all need Jesus, Walton.”
Alex skated into position to attempt another practice goal. We should count our blessings Troy’s in Nova Scotia or he would’ve unleashed the wrath of God on Walton and Ivanka.
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She imagined the puck as Lenny and Jax’s heads before firing it toward Greise.
"Wunderschön!" he praised as the puck slid into his net. “Way to go, Galla!”
Alex didn’t bother correcting Greise about her name. She bent in a mock bow, which made him laugh.
“Okay, that’s enough for this morning,” Coach Barry said. “Let’s take a lunch break and come back around one-thirty.”
Power Play Page 10
