Chapter Text
Heather didn't play hockey. She was a good skater, and she was very passionate. Not passionate... She was angry. She channeled that anger into movement, which is what Bombay saw. He saw a talented girl, who could skate fast and not mess up.
She was frustrated with herself, so she went extra hard that evening. She would just spin and spin and run and run until she physically couldn't anymore. It was almost concerning, but it meant she'd make a good player.
"Hey, stop spinning! I've gotta talk to you!"
"Oh, fuck off, old man."
"I'm in my twenties, and listen to me. You'd make a good hockey-"
"I don't do hockey. I don't do sports."
"You're doing a sport right now."
"I mean team sports."
"You'll learn. I can see you. You're fast, and you're agile."
"That doesn't mean a thing. I don't know the rules."
"Plus, I don't really like being shoved into walls." She added.
"Try it. We'll go easy on ya."
"I dunno... I'm still bad at it. I can't think on my feet."
Bombay grabbed a stick and threw it at her. She caught it absently.
"You clearly can. You can quit anytime, just try it."
"Fine."
"Get some skates and a helmet."
"I've got skates. I'm wearin' 'em."
"Hockey skates are different."
"I don't see how, but alright."
She disappeared somewhere else and came back with hockey skates and a helmet.
"I look dumb."
"Don't worry about it."
"Different way you skate in hockey, too, or is it just the shoes?"
"Charlie, show her how to skate?"
"Alright..."
He stood next to her.
"Wide stance with your knees together."
"We doing the tootie-ta or what?"
He laughed, "No, we aren't. Hockey skating's like walking, less graceful than figure skating."
"That's dumb." She started to skate. She was pretty fast, even when doing it in a new way.
"Yeah, like that! You've got it!"
"How do you even play hockey, anyways?"
"So, you have six player on each team. One's a goalie, so five active players. Everyone's got a stick, and they have to get the puck, the black thing, into the other team's net. Each official game lasts an hour, divided into thirds. The ice is also divided into thirds. You see those blue lines?"
"Yeah, I do."
"Those are the defence, neutral, and attacking zones."
"So the other team's goal is our attacking but ours is defending?"
"Yeah. A game starts with a face-off, with the puck in the middle and the two center players-"
"Are the center players the opposing captains?"
"No, those are entirely different things. So, the center players have to get the puck to their team, like they'll pass it or try to shoot it or whatever. Also, there are up to twenty players on each team, but only six are allowed on the ice at any time. That's the concept of it, there are also the different players and stuff."
"Like, left wing, right wing, striker, defence?"
"Kinda like football, but not really. We'll play around a bit, you can get the basics."
"Alright. Warning, though, I'm not gonna be a star player."
"Good, 'cause then I'd have to kill you. I'm the star player."
"I feel threatened."
The rest of the team walked out on the ice, and they just started playing. She saw there were no teams, no starting conflict with the puck, and no clear roles. She looked briefly confused, but grabbed a stick and tried to play. She didn't get any, "What are you doing!?"s, so basically that means she'll make the N.H.L.
She heard a lot of weird names called out, such as Ghee and Folton. It was confusing, but she 'scored' a few points and didn't die.
A few practice sessions and a lot of learning later, she joined the team. She could've joined the second Bombay offered, but she was anxious and wanted to be perfect before she even tried.