Chapter 4
CHAPTER FOUR
FRESH STARTS
NASH
Imet Coach Harrison once before the Cove Knights eliminated my former team from last year’s playoffs.
By then my transfer from Hemlock Beach to Star Cove had already gone through, so I don’t bear a grudge for that particular defeat.
The Cove Knights went ahead to win the Frozen Four tournament, and I felt a perverse sense of satisfaction when I saw the defeated look on my teammates’ faces.
Fuck ‘em.
Fuck them all. I actually blame my teammates for treating me like a pariah more than Coach Hiddink for benching me. The potential scandal could have destroyed my career, and I missed most of my junior year season.
As I walk into Coach Harrison’s office, I notice how everything here in Star Cove looks more polished. Hemlock Beach is a good school, but I guess Ivy League money brings everything to another level.
“Take a seat next to Tucker, son. And welcome to Star Cove,” Coach Harrison says with a smile that has the effect of making him look scarier than before.
The Cove Knight’s coach is known for being strict but fair. I don’t care. I can follow the rules as long as I get a chance to play. And with two of his starting defensemen graduating this summer, there’s a spot with my name on my new team.
“Hey man,” I nod in greeting. “You played one hell of a game in the Frozen Four final. Shutting out Yale is no small feat.”
Tucker Prescott smiles. “Thanks, man. Too bad you didn’t get to play in the semifinal, are you ok now?”
With no official reason given for my long stint on the bench, one of the theories that has been circulating is that I was injured.
Coach Harrison knows the truth, and that’s all that matters to me.
I need a fresh start here, and there’s no reason for my new teammates to know why things didn’t work out for me in Hemlock Beach.
Coach called Prescott my teammate, and that surprised me.
If I recall correctly, Tucker was a senior.
Shouldn’t he be graduating with half the Cove Knights’ starting line?
The only two players in the starting lineup that won the national championship and aren’t graduating are Macklin Shayba and Colsen Thomas, who were respectively a sophomore and a junior.
“There are a few new things this year for our team.” Coach Harrison offers once I lower myself into the seat next to Prescott.
“As you might know, Star Cove has many alumni who became prominent figures in many fields including hockey. There is our current mayor, Scott Hunter, who I’m sure doesn’t need an introduction. ”
At the risk of sounding like a lame fanboy, I share my excitement. “Hunter was my favorite player growing up, Coach. I heard that sometimes he comes to the Knights’ home games.”
Coach nods. “He does. One of his sons, Chance Hunter, is on the team. He was a freshman this season, and he’s one of the most promising right wingers I’ve coached so far.”
“I’m excited to meet him.” I say. “Was there anything you wanted to discuss with me, Coach? Why did you want to see me?”
Coach Harrison looks slightly uncomfortable for a moment. He looks from me to Tucker before sighing. “I’m meeting with everyone today and tomorrow because there is some news that involves the whole team.”
“What else could go wrong now? Are they expecting us to play in sparkling leotards?” Prescott says under his breath.
I don’t know Coach Harrison yet; I’ve only met him once in the spring before deciding to transfer to Star Cove. He was polite and professional, but his fame of being a very strict coach precedes him, and his demeanor did nothing to change that first impression.
I brace myself for his reaction to Prescott’s comment.
“Be careful of what you put out in the universe, son,” Coach says with an eye roll to my surprise.
My gaze meets Prescott’s for a split second, and it’s obvious that he’s just as surprised as I was by Coach’s words.
Neither of us dares say anything, waiting for the news we’ve been summoned to receive.
“Like I was saying,” Coach Harrison says with another sigh.
“Our school has several important alumni. A few, like our mayor, have helped put our hockey program on the map as they were Cove Knights before going on to great NHL careers. One of these alumni, who went to school here with our current Dean, is Brett Bergen. I’m sure you know who I’m talking about. ”
I nod, feeling a little starstruck. The considerable number of NHL champions that attended Star Cove College is the reason why I decided to transfer here when I became persona non grata in Hemlock Beach.
“Of course. Brett Bergen was one of the best left wingers of his generation. He led the San Francisco Paladins to their first ever Stanley Cup just this year.”
Coach Harrison acknowledges me with another nod.
“Yeah, well. Brett and our mayor have been talking about bringing an NHL team to Star Cove. Of course, that’s something that doesn’t happen overnight.
The NHL commissioner needs to be persuaded that our town has what it takes to make a new franchise successful. ”
Prescott lets out a surprised whistle. “Holy shit. Having a Star Cove NHL team would be fucking awesome.”
This time Coach reacts the way I would expect to the interruption.
“Yeah, and like I was saying,” he glares at our new teammate. “It isn’t a simple process, and the league commissioner made it clear that the fee would be nearing two billion dollars for a new franchise. That’s in addition to everything else.”
“Two billion?” I gasp.
Coach’s stony gaze meets mine and I pipe down, fighting the urge to squirm in my seat.
“Yes, two billion to be paid to the NHL commission. Bergen and Mayor Hunter are spearheading the effort. Their plan is to begin building the infrastructure needed for an expansion team, starting with a new arena. The land for it has already been secured, but that’s not everything.
Last year they built a brand new, state-of-the-art hockey training facility on the west side of town.
The brand new center is destined to be the home of the new NHL team, but for now it has been offered to the Cove Knights for our summer training.
It has a practice rink, gym and PT facilities and even living quarters for the players and staff. ”
That sounds exciting.
This time neither Prescott nor I say anything, waiting for Coach to continue.
“They want to make as much of a splash as possible, showing that Star Cove is truly passionate about hockey. So they’re also recruiting for a cheerleading team.”
“Snow Girls?” Prescott chuckles. “Fuck, yeah.”
If a look could kill, the Cove Knights’ goalie would be reduced to a pile of ashes in front of my very eyes.
“Not Snow Girls. Cheerleading has been extremely limited in hockey so far, especially compared to sports like football.” Coach’s jaw ticks as he ignores the outburst. “From what I was told, they’re recruiting professional dancers.
They aren’t interested in the girls cleaning up the snow between periods or stuff like that.
They want a team that will perform at every game like some of the famous cheerleading teams in football.
They’ll be the face of the Cove Knights first, and eventually they’ll cheer for the new NHL team. ”
Prescott rubs the back of his neck. “Sorry, Coach. So yeah, that sounds really cool. But if the new NHL team isn’t happening this year, how does all of this help me?”
“I’m getting to it if you stop the commentary.
” Coach growls. “Usually there would be a couple of weeks between the end of the academic year and our summer training camp. But this year our summer program will be expanded, and we’ll start next week.
As part of the plan to draw attention to Star Cove’s hockey, the alumni decided to sponsor the team.
We’re getting brand new equipment and redesigned uniforms. With the approval of the NCAA, rather than the usual couple of practice games we do at the end of summer training, this year there will be a mini summer tournament.
A few exhibition games with other local college teams.”
I have a few questions, but I don’t want to piss off Coach Harrison before I even lace up my skates, so I raise my hand.
The corners of Coach’s lips curl up in a barely there smile that doesn’t reach his eyes. “Yes, Belkin. Go ahead.”
“When you say local teams, do you mean other collegiate teams?”
“Yes. As far as I know, the teams that have agreed to participate so far are our Community College team, UCLA, San Diego and Stockton.”
Prescott rolls his eyes, but this time seeks permission to speak like I just did. “What about Bridgeport?”
Coach Harrison’s gaze darkens. “Things in Bridgeport are on shaky ground right now. I’m sure you saw in the news that their team captain was arrested recently for assault and a slew of other charges. Recently Bridgeport’s Dean was killed during a standoff with the police.”
Everyone has heard about how Bridgeport’s late dean exploited the most elite athletes at his school, amassing a huge fortune by building a social media empire that thrived on their talent.
“Bridgeport is a private college, like Star Cove,” Coach explains.
“The university has been put under temporary administration as the police conclude their investigation. From what has been reported, there was a widespread and significant misappropriation of funds, and the university is in huge financial trouble. There are rumors of a total closure. So it’s safe to say that the decade long rivalry between Star Cove and Bridgeport might come to an untimely end. ”
South Carolina and California are in two different conferences, so I’ve only ever played against Bridgeport once in the playoffs my freshman year. They played a hard and physical game, a real tough team with no qualms about fighting, especially if the referees weren’t paying attention.