Chapter 5
It was now 10:30am the following day straight after the morning practice session and already the three youngsters had aching muscles. Their parents left them to do their practice and went off on their own around the city, and while practice was over for the day, it wasn’t for Ashley with her two new lines mates decided today was a good day much to her annoyance as the best time do their get to know their new friend.
The three of them went to a small cafe not far from the Joe and ordered a round of drinks the guys got their coffee and Ashley opted for an iced lemon tea and they also put in an order for some sandwiches.
‘Ok then Ash,’ Brent said she gave him a curious look.
‘I think it is time for you to tell us a little something about yourself,’ he said.
‘Why? There is nothing of interest.’ She answered.
‘Come on surely there is, like what drew you to playing hockey in the first place, how you got into the grades, you know, that sort of a thing,’ Doug added she rolled her eyes. They sounded like a bunch of gossip queens.
‘Really there is nothing to tell,’ she said.
‘So, you just decided to play hockey?’ Brent asked she cocked her head.
‘No but I liked it, it appealed to me, so I gave it a go.’ She said.
‘Well start there then explain it.’ Doug remarked she laughed they just wouldn’t give up.
‘Ok well if you insist.’
‘Go ahead we’re listening.’ Brent said he took a sip of his coffee.
‘I was born in New Zealand, but both my parents were originally from Singapore, a small Asian country. I’ve got an older brother and sister, they were born there, my parents got divorced when I was 9, and I started playing sport at like 7. Started with netball, then went to play soccer with my brother for a few months. He got into hockey with friends, because apparently it had something to do with meeting girls.’ She said rolling her eyes both guys laughed.
‘He convinced me to join. Guess it just kind of took off after that’. She shrugged.
‘Just like that with no previous training?’ Brent asked she shook her head.
‘My old coach at the Rattlesnakes which I played for before the Steamrollers told my parents I had a knack for the game he didn’t know how and neither did my parents. He spent a lot of time working with me, so I was able to get into the Steamrollers side when I was 11, and that is early. Most of the players in that side are 15 or 16 at least. I liked it, but I didn’t really think what he said was correct. I watched it a lot on TV growing up so I guess I sort of learnt that way.’ She said.
‘I can see why you made the grade so early.’ Doug remarked she gave him a quizzical look.
‘You don’t know? He asked she shook her head.
‘Not really, I just play what’s in front of me. Try to adapt to situations and work around it. Don’t think there is anything particularly special about the way I do it. It wasn’t even about playing as such, more to get away from life,’ she replied the two guys exchanged smiles she frowned.
‘What?’
‘Every player is judged on their skills as individuals as well as the way they perform in a game. It is not always about the big plays that are made but also the small things that usually go un-noticed. The difference between the great players and the average ones and who makes the top grade is defined by their ability. Perhaps it was something in those areas that caught your coach’s eye. If you showed the capability to play with kids older than you, then I can only presume you were doing what the coach wanted to see at the next level.’ Brent answered.
‘I guess so,’ she said.
‘Follow the NHL much?’ Doug asked.
‘Yeah, I watch it all the time like I said. We don’t get a ton of coverage it, so I just watch whatever game goes get shown. Don’t even have a particular team to follow.’
‘No favorite players or teams?’
‘No,’
The waitress arrived with their food orders she put the plates in front and left them alone again the three dug into their sandwiches.
‘This is great,’ she said swallowing the first mouthful the two guys nodded.
‘On most days after practice and games during the season we all come here,’ Brent said.
‘Ok so what now? We don’t have another session until tomorrow?’ she asked.
‘Nothing just relax and enjoy the rest of the day off,’ Doug said.
‘I’m sure your parents will want you out with them,’ Brent added.
‘Oh, yeah I forgot.’ She said pulling her phone from her jacket pocket to call her mother.
‘Hi mom where are you guys? Ok yeah, we’ve finished for the day. Sure, we can do that ok bye.’
She ended the phone call and put her phone away.
‘Guess you were right my parents already have planned well ahead,’ she remarked.
‘Well, my kids always love being around my wife and I, so I’d assume all kids are the same,’ Doug answered.
‘Guess so,’
Brent and Doug glanced at one another something told them there was probably a little more going on for her then they knew but as it wasn’t their place to ask they kept quiet.
By the time the trio arrived at the hotel where the three youngsters were staying, Ashley’s parents had also returned from their trip in the city.
‘My mom said they are in the restaurant,’ she said.
‘It is this way,’ Brent remarked he pointed to their right the entrance to the restaurant was there they headed in Ashley spotted her parents at the far end talking to another couple.
‘Hey, isn’t that Ken?’ Brent whispered Doug nodded.
‘I wonder what they are doing here,’ he answered, Ken noticed them first and waved them over Ashley had met general manager Ken Holland, already but she too wondered what he was doing here talking to her parents.
‘And how did you find practice this morning young lady?’ Ken asked.
‘It was great,’ she replied he smiled and nodded.
‘That is what we like to hear.’
He then looked at Doug and Brent.
‘How about the two of you, what are your thoughts on her performance so far?’ he asked.
‘Good, fast improvement already even though we started just yesterday,’ Doug said.
‘All right well Mr. Pearson and Mrs. Pearson it was a pleasure to meet you and I am sure we will be talking again before this week is over,’ Ken answered, Catalin and Daniel agreed and shook hands with him; then Ken along with Doug and Brent left the hotel.
‘Mom, dad what did he say?’ Ashley asked her mum simply shook her head.
‘It is nothing for you to worry about Ashley, you just focus on what you have to do and leave the rest up to your father and I.’ she answered. Ashley could see there was a troubled look on her mother’s face.
‘Have you eaten?’ Daniel asked.
‘Yeah, we got something earlier,’ she answered.
‘Then we can go out again,’ her mother said.
‘Ah not yet, I want to get cleaned up first I can’t go anywhere like this,’ Ashley moaned, her mother gave her a one overlook.
‘You look fine.’
Ashley shook her head, although she was back in her regular clothes and not the training stuff, she still felt dirty.
‘Fifteen minutes,’ she added, Daniel and Catalin nodded Ashley picked up her backpack and jogged off out of the restaurant while her parents went to wait in the main lobby.
‘Oh, excuse me sir and ma’am,’ somebody said, they turned around, a man and woman who looked to be in their mid 30s and dressed in smart-casual clothes.
‘Can we help you?’ Daniel asked.
‘We sure hope so. We noticed a couple of the Red Wings players leave not long ago with the team’s general manager,’ the man said.
‘And we saw your daughter as well, so we were just wondering if you knew anything about it,’ the woman added.
‘No.’ Catalin remarked sharply she didn’t like the way they were attempting to fish out any information and she wasn’t going to enlighten them Daniel also caught onto his wife’s thoughts.
‘Our daughter is here with her team playing in a competition. Those players being here would only be by co-incidence,’ he said.
‘I see, I see. Well, thanks for your help then enjoy your day,’ the man remarked; however, the woman wasn’t going to give up so easily.
‘Really, because I know the junior competition is being held in Florida and not here,’ she said but Daniel and Catalin refused to comment further they walked away to the other end of the lobby.
‘Stacy that was a step too far,’ the man beside her said.
‘No, it wasn’t. They are hiding something that much is obvious. It is our job to find the facts and expose it, Jim trust me. I have an odd suspicion something is up with the team it is close to pre-season, so they are on the move.’ She answered Jim shrugged his shoulders.
‘And what makes you think that family and their kid has to do with it?’
‘I don’t know yet call it my sixth sense if you want. Come on we have work to do,’ she added and grabbed his arm they quickly fled from the hotel. Catalin saw the pair leave, she was relieved she didn’t like the look of them the minute they spoke to her and Daniel.
‘Dear we must be careful now.’ She said.
‘Honey, I don’t think there is any reason for you to overreact.’ He said but she shook her head.
‘I didn’t like what that woman was insisting at all and if she does find anything out you know how distracting it will be.’
‘Relax Cat it will be fine. If you want, I can look into it but I’m no expert.’ He answered.
‘Yes, yes do, it and see what you can find I know it isn’t your area, but you have that—that, friend.’ Catalin remarked Daniel nodded an old college of his, Jeffrey Simpson had previously worked in the media field.
‘Him get him on the job he has connections.’ She added Daniel comforted his wife.
‘You just need to relax and leave it to me; right now, our main priority is to enjoy our time here with Ashley and support her through this period,’ he said she nodded. So, while she waited for Ashley to return from the room Daniel moved back to make the phone call, and leaving Catalin alone with some time to think. The words from Mr. Holland, Mr. Drysdale over the past couple of days had taken a lot out of her mentally and she had barely any time to digest the information. According to Mr. Drysdale, her daughter was making quite an impression and in front of the right people even if she wasn’t aware of it and the talk even at this early stage, was there was already interest
‘Mom?’ Ashley asked her mother looked at her daughter and smiled.
‘Ok so are you ready to go?’
‘Yep.’
Catalin turned to look for her husband he was still a fair distance off talking on his phone and he had his back to them; Ashley felt her phone vibrate inside her jacket she quickly retrieved it to read the message.
We just got informed of a dinner the club is holding on Friday night for everyone so make sure you let your parents know. Ashley took note of the message and sent one back, it was a good thing she had both Brent and Doug’s numbers in her phone now, just in case anything came up like that message.
‘Hey, mom.’ She said.
‘Yes Ashley,’ her mother was watching her husband carefully he seemed to be talking quite animatedly now his free arm waving in all directions.
‘Are we doing anything on Friday?’ Ashley asked, she too had seen her stepdad’s frantic hand movements.
‘I don’t think so, why are you asking?’ Catalin asked.
‘One of the guys told me that the team’s holding a dinner type thingy on Friday and we’re all invited,’ Ashley said.
‘Oh, I see well we will be there then,’ Catalin answered Daniel ended his phone call he smiled at them.
‘Ok are we ready to leave now?’
‘Yep!’
Together the three of them out of the hotel and luckily for them there was a couple of cabs already parked outside ready to be used. Daniel had a quick conversation with the driver and soon the family were on their way, they were headed back to the city center, still plenty there for them to explore.
When the cab dropped them off in the city center Daniel suggested they go back and take a look at the restaurant they saw earlier. Catalin agreed and they went through the shopping mall entrance in front of them and for Ashley this was the opportunity to see the city. Since the Steamrollers had arrived in Florida some weeks ago the players barely had any time to sight-see aside from going off on their own like Ashley had managed to do on that one occasion Even their post-match parties were restricted to their hotel. Inside the shopping center even for a late Tuesday afternoon, was busy and alive. Families, elderly people and teenagers lingered around in the shops, the food court and the arcade.
‘I’ll be there,’ Ashley said her parents didn’t have the chance to protest she was off to the arcade Daniel laughed.
‘Still a kid can’t expect any more than that,’ he answered, the good part was, the restaurant they were looking for; an Italian restaurant named San Morello which wasn’t too far away from the arcade. They went in and were greeted by a waiter standing at his post near the doorway, there Daniel and Catalin inquired about the menu, the service and any availabilities for that evening.
Ashley on the other hand took a casual wonder through the arcade, it was full of kids and teenagers all of them in groups of four or five gathered around game stations, yelling as the video games unfolded on the screens in front of them. She continued to walk around, inspecting each of the games on display. She loved to play all the games but the ones that interested her the most were the race cars one., All the racing stations were occupied by groups of guys similar in age. Ashley stood back to watch them. She’d been doing that for about ten minutes One of them, dressed in shorts and t-shirt turned around to look he had quite long and un-tidy blondish hair.
‘Why are you standing here?’ he demanded with a glare at her
‘What does it look like to you? I want a turn when you’re finished,’ she said he nudged his friends they also turned around to look.
‘Well, we are still playing and we will be here for a while so move along girly,’ his friend, with black hair answered he made a waving motion in the other direction, Ashley wasn’t going to be easily put off by this, and instead she stood her ground and folded her arms. The guys cocked their eyebrows up.
‘I have a better idea.’ She said.
‘Oh yeah, and what’s that?’ the blond one asked she nodded to the game behind them.
‘We have a game I’ll take you and your friends on and whoever wins should leave,’ she said; the guys looked at one another she could tell they thought she was being stupid.
‘What is the problem? You afraid you might lose to a girl?’ she asked.
‘Whatever! You don’t stand a chance. We have played this game more than a thousand times,’ the blond answered.
‘So, what is the problem? I’m keen why aren’t you?’ she remarked.
‘Fine.’ He said, he and his friends moved around to a car seat station and Ashley did she wasn’t worried no matter what the result from this; it was all in the name of a little fun for her.
‘Get ready girly,’ the blonde called across to her, she didn’t reply as they got underway and passed all the usual introduction parts of the game. Then it was time to play, the loud music and voice over gave the five second countdown and the green light lit up. All of them hit the accelerator along with the computerized cars and it was a full-on charge on the open track, before it turned into a much narrower road. Since the game would last about four laps there was no need for her to panic this early in the game, she was happy to take her time and slowly pick the other drivers off when they didn’t expect.
‘Haha!!’ the blond said.
‘I’m way in front of you, and you’ll never catch me!’ he yelled, she had moved into second place behind him and his car was about 500meters ahead and they were just about to start the final lap. She slowly gained up on him and his shouts from the other seat went quiet pretty quickly. With not long left until the end of the race Ashley was able to get her car up and alongside the blond guy’s one and they were neck and neck but, then he went for a sly cheap shot ramming his car into hers, it proved a good trick as it threw her off course. Ashley kept quiet and just kept going she’d fallen behind slightly but soon was up alongside, but this time she was a lot wiser and saw him move in for another slam and she returned the favor. That caught him by surprise, but she had the momentum and forced his car away and as he desperately tried to regain, she shot ahead further. The race was nearly over as they passed the final turn the blond guy and his friends were closing in fast though and one of them even reached her car’s rear bumper, but she still got over the line first.
‘Holy crap!’
Ashley turned around a whole crowd had, out of nowhere gathered around their game station to watch many of them looked surprised she’d just won. She turned to look at the blond guy and his friends; they shook their heads and muttered in amongst their group.
‘A deal is a deal you know,’ she remarked he glared at her.
‘I know.’ He muttered; he grabbed his stuff and stormed off through the crowd she shook her head.
‘What is it with guys not taking to losing to a girl?’ she mused. The crowd slowly began to walk away and return to their own games and Ashley saw her parents out the front and she quickly ran to join them.
‘What’s next?’ she asked.
‘Ashley dear you really shouldn’t be showing off,’ her mother said.
‘But I wasn’t!’ she protested but her shoulders slumped when she saw the disapproving look on her mother’s face.
‘Ok just a bit but those guys were being mean!’ she added.
‘That is still no excuse Ashley and you know better than that. Just because you come out a winner it does not make you any better than them,’ Catalin replied.
‘I’m sorry.’ Ashley said.
‘That is better. Now come on I think you will need some new clothes to take home after this trip is over,’ Catalin said.
‘Mom,’ Ashley moaned her mother only smiled and lead them off to the lifts.
*~*~*
The next morning Ashley, James and Caleb and the Red Wings were back at the Joe for their morning practice session. Scotty had already informed them the minute they all arrived that today’s session would run a half hour longer as they were also being observed by several members of the NHL and the NHLPA.
‘This is great; do you know who those guys are?’ Caleb remarked.
‘Yes, Caleb we know,’ James answered as he laced up his skates.
‘Yeah, well don’t get any bright ideas Jimmy because I’ll be the one impressing them.’ Caleb answered James laughed.
‘What is just so funny to you?’ Caleb demanded.
‘You really think you’re the one they are here to see?’ James asked.
‘Yes, and I know it for sure,’ Caleb said he walked off out of the room and nearly collided with Ashley when she emerged from the opposite room.
‘Get out of my way Pearson,’ he snarled giving her a shove to the side he walked ahead she bit back her tongue.
‘He is so asking for it,’ she muttered and headed out to the ice. She had barely gotten near center ice when out of nowhere Caleb flew right by and elbowed her in the side then, he skid-halted spun around and came after her again this time he hit her with a little more force.
‘Caleb quit it!’ she snapped he smirked and turned back to come for her yet again, but Kris was quick to intervene.
‘That’s enough Thomas play nice.’ He remarked, Caleb grumbled but did as he was told and skated away.
‘Guys the way we will start off today is playing one on one with the goalies. Come up with a few plays, use your creative skills and have fun.’ Scotty said. All the players except for Drapes went to the bench; he had a huge smile spread across his face.
‘Now watch the master!’ he said all his teammates shook their heads and laughed. He skated off down the ice with the puck on his stick and that’s when the tricks all started. First, he slid the puck down between his skates then up to his stick, managed to flick it up and bat it down then followed it up with a very nice spin-around move and in one quick motion to put the shot up, it was a good save.
‘Ok it is my turn,’ Caleb remarked James and Ashley covered their faces and gagged.
‘Why does he insist on embarrassing himself even more?’ James whispered to Ashley.
‘The world revolves around him?’ she offered he laughed; Caleb heard the laugh he turned around to glare at them and pointed his stick in their direction.
‘Watch this,’ he remarked and skated away with the puck and pulled out a slick skate making a slide onto his stomach enabling him to get the puck into the net with a second effort.
‘That is going to leave a mark,’ James said.
‘Yeah, and one he’ll show off if he gets the chance,’ Ashley replied he nodded and laughed with her.
‘All right then who is next?’ Scotty asked and everyone looked at Ashley she simply stared back.
‘What?’
‘Miss Pearson, would you like to go next then?’ he offered.
‘Uh…’
‘Go on, show everyone you got a better one then what Cal just did,’ James whispered to her, she gave him a glare.
‘I dare you to,’ Caleb added from the other side of the bench.
‘Fine,’ she said and moved off to center ice. She thought of any moves she’d learnt in the last couple of years but there wasn’t much aside from that blue-line back door rush she had practiced every day, but they all would have already seen it. She needed something that was different even one she had never tried at all. Then one did come to mind. It wasn’t a particularly difficult move, but it could be tricky to pull off.
‘What are you waiting for man, hurry up!’ Caleb yelled she just smiled. There were already two pucks so that was a good start she moved them apart about six meters and skated backwards in a half circle. She moved forwards putting one of the pucks onto her stick and did a circle back and scooped the second puck. Everyone watched on in silence, she skated on down the ice handling the two pucks with one stick then, as she went past the blue line she wound up a shot and dumped one puck down the left-hand corner of the zone then did the exact opposite with the second puck only this time she aimed for the right-hand side of the ice. She had hit both pucks with enough force to send them down the corners and around to the back of the net. Then she chased after them skating down behind the net; jumped over the two pucks, swiveled back and scooped one onto the blade of her stick and came back to the front and fired a shot on the forehand, then doubled back for the second puck and flicked it on net with the backhand. Caleb mumbled under his breath James shook his head a small smile on his face. He had seen Ashley do this once before, just after she joined the Steamrollers. The Red Wings players and the coaching staff looked impressed, but they didn’t show it. Ashley, happy with that headed back to the bench James gave her a nudge.
‘That is going to a hard act for me to follow,’ he said she laughed.
‘Not my fault,’ she remarked.
For the next half an hour the players all went through their creative styles on the goaltenders, and none of the players gave any thought to the people that watched them. Caleb did and it was obvious to the other players that whatever he did he wanted to show he was the best. Joey could only shake his head as they watched the next drills, this one was a speed drill. Dave was on the ice too with Scotty and like the last time they had their stopwatches and the clipboards ready to take notes.
‘I know who will top the list,’ Kris remarked he was standing right behind Ashley. She smirked when she overheard him but didn’t turn around. Caleb was out on the ice and he skated long and hard in the drill. His strides were smooth and his pace was very consistent but not spectacular. Caleb always had good acceleration at the start but he tended to fade out the longer he went on and like the last time this drill was run he got tired pretty quickly.
Up in the stands the guys from the NHL and NHLPA were also taking their own notes and the tree youngsters parents were also there, but Caleb’s parents in particular were beginning to get nosy. They asked endless questions about what everyone thought of their son’s performance so far.
‘He does have a lot of potential,’ one of the guys’ a man named Peter Douse answered.
‘Not just a lot he is the most talented player back home,’ Richard remarked. Peter didn’t show that he had taken in Richard’s comment instead he turned to another guy that was seated beside him, Frank Mortimer and whispered something to him. Frank nodded got up and left the seating area.
Back down on ice level the speed drill had moved on, three other Red Wings players; Stu, Darryl and Vladimir Konstantinov had done theirs and now it was Ashley’s turn.
‘Are you ready?’ Dave called out; she was poised next to the orange marker cone on the other side of where the coaches stood and she gave them the nod.
‘Go!’
She was off and skating down the ice and around the net and back up again, her strides were also smooth and her acceleration from the stop-start position was good. As she came to the end of her run, she dug deeper and made a fast sprint to the end. The stopwatches clicked off there was a hushed silence in the group the coaches exchanged brief chats gave a nod to each other.
‘Mr. Sattler you are next,’ Scotty answered and everything resumed its normality. Ashley was bemused by that moment of quiet, but nobody enlightened her about it. Frank had come down to ice level he was stood by the bench near where Caleb was taking a break. James finished his run a short time later and the coaches made more notes then Scotty handed everything back to Dave and he in turn moved to the bench and gave it to Frank.
‘What are you going to do with that stuff?’ Caleb asked.
‘We’ll keep a record of it and be in touch with the club in the next few days Mr. Thomas.’ Frank explained and he left and headed back to the seating area.
‘Guys we are moving onto the next drill in ten minutes so take a break and come back refreshed and ready for our next session.’ Scotty replied they all headed back to the bench grabbed their drinks bottles and just lounged around to have a chat. Scotty and Dave exited the bench and made their way to the seating area.
‘So, Pete, tell us what do you think so far?’ Scotty asked.
‘Well Scotty your scouts definitely know how to spot the talent.’ Peter remarked.
‘We hire the best,’ Scotty said a smile played on his lips. Caleb’s father Richard quickly jumped in on the conversation.
‘What about my son then? Does he have what it takes to make it here?’ he asked though the comment didn’t come out as a question more of a demand and his wife looked particularly embarrassed at her husband’s display.
‘Mr. Thomas I can understand your keenness, but it is not up to us to make any judgment call,’ Peter said.
‘That alone comes down to the individual clubs, and I am pretty sure the Red Wings will be going through that process at the end of the week. For us we just come in to make observations and lend our thoughts to them, but we play no other part until the composition of contracts to the players in question.’ He explained.
‘Then where does this leave our daughter?’ Catalin asked.
‘I know for her it is a learning experience, but I just feel it to be a little unfair.’ She replied.
‘I assure you Mrs. Pearson we are not going to make any quick judgments’ about your daughter just yet. As you were told earlier, she is being considered for many of the local clubs in the area.’ Scotty answered.
‘Wait a minute.’ Richard interrupted.
‘How can you make those statements about their kid and not have anything solid for my son?’ he added.
‘Richard, please just sit down and listen,’ Judith scolded him, but Richard wasn’t perturbed by this and pressed on.
‘You call yourself professional and yet you can sit here and be disorganized like this, it is an outrage.’ He said. Dave signaled for the security guards, and they quickly moved in on Richard. He spun around to glare at them when the two men grabbed hold of his arms.
‘What do you think you are doing get your hands off me.’ He said.‘Sir you are coming with us.’ One of the security guards replied and they escorted him away, Judith feeling terribly embarrassed by all this made an apology and followed her husband. Down at ice level all the players and the three youngsters saw what happened and everyone looked at Caleb but to his credit he let it pass and continued the conversation with Dallas.
When the break was over Scotty and Dave returned to their positions on the bench and the next drill, which focused on the shooting, was underway. That went on for about 25-minutes before Scotty called time and the youngsters with their line mates were given their half hour time slot to practice. It was this part of the drills that caught the most attention from the guys from the NHL and NHLPA. They kept jotting down endless notes and whispering to each other nodding at the kids. They weren’t the only ones surprised at what they saw on the ice with James and Ashley’s parents also looking surprised. They were aware of their kids’ talents but not to this extent.