Chapter 2
two
Zhuri
Ifeel like I could throw up.
I can usually keep myself calm and collected, but I’m so wary of this new direction for the league. And I still have no idea who my teammates are going to be.
I take my time getting ready for today’s press conference. I wear my hair down, natural and curly. My black dress is skin-tight, hitting just above my knees, and I pair it with a gray plaid blazer and black pumps.
The upside to always having to dress up before and after games is that I have quite a collection of nice clothes I can wear to events like this.
I meet up with Bet and Isla when I get to the arena. We run into a couple of our other teammates, Aili and Venda, who join us on our walk to the media room, where Sean is holding the press conference.
“Are you three as pissed off as we are?” Aili asks through her thick Finnish accent.
“Pissed doesn’t even begin to describe my feelings,” Venda grumbles.
I sigh. “Well, we certainly aren’t happy about it. I would have thought, too, as the captain, that I’d get a little advance warning, but I found out at the same time as everyone else.”
“I’m so fucking nervous,” Isla says worriedly, and Aili and Venda drape their arms around opposite shoulders.
“Icy,” Venda starts, “I guaran-fucking-tee that you’ll have a spot on the Comets.”
Isla throws her head back and groans. “Am I that obvious?”
“Yes,” Bet chuckles. “We’ve played with you for years. We know you better than you do, Icy.”
“I think we could use some positivity, Z,” Aili adds. “Whatcha got for us?”
My job as captain of the Dragons involved putting a positive spin on everything and hyping up our entire team. It comes easily enough to me since I’ve always been a positive, happy person.
My wariness right now, though, makes that difficult even for me.
I dig deep and come up with something fitting for us.
“Never give up on the things that make you smile,” I assert. “Hockey is everything to us. It’s our happy place. We can’t let a change in how we play take away from our love of the game. Let’s go in with our heads held high and make lemonade out of lemons.”
Elisabet rests her head on my shoulder. “We can always count on Z to give us some cheesy, uplifting quote.”
I shake my head as we come to a stop in front of the media room doors. Isla pushes them open, and the five of us step inside the already-crowded room.
My eyes scan over the space, and I take it in.
The way everyone is congregated almost feels like a middle school party—girls on one side, boys on the other.
The rest of our teammates talk amongst themselves on the left, while most of the men of the Lizards talk on the right side of the room.
At the front, the team owner, Sean Eckhart, is speaking with Marissa Leverson, our coach, and Nils Balstad, the Lizards’ coach.
With the exception of Sean, everyone in this room seems to be just as nervous as I am. No one is looking forward to such a monumental change.
Isla, Aili, and Venda take their seats, but the door opens behind us before Elisabet and I can move.
We both turn around, and Sidney Gagnon walks in… followed by Cameron fucking Kovacic.
“Hey, Bet,” Sidney smiles.
I think I see a slight blush across her cheeks. “Hey, Sid. Good to see you.”
“Can’t you go somewhere else, Kovacic?” I snark, annoyance already flooding through me.
He emphatically rolls his eyes. “No, I can’t, and you fucking know that. I need to be here just as much as you do, Hart.”
“Then just stay on your side of the room.”
“With pleasure,” he smirks, quickly walking away with Sid trailing behind him.
This season is going to be fucking miserable.
“I know we’re all worried about this new direction,” Sean states, looking out at the players and media personnel in front of him, “but I truly believe we can all band together to make the Comets’ inaugural season a great one.
” He clears his throat. “That being said, we obviously will need to make changes to our roster. Between the Lizards’ and the Dragons’, there are too many players to play on a single team.
We’ve addressed this by creating two teams—the Colorado Comets, our new NHL team, and the Colorado Asteroids, one level below the NHL.
The Asteroids will serve as a bridge between the minor leagues and the professional league. ”
Sean straightens his tie and continues. “I’ve been working closely with Coach Leverson and Coach Balstad, and together we’ve finalized the roster for the Comets.
” Marissa and Nils walk to the small stage to join Sean.
“That starts with our coaching positions. I’m happy to announce that the first Head Coach of the Colorado Comets will be Marissa Leverson, and Nils Balstad will be serving as our Associate Coach. ”
Those of us in the audience clap, and I can feel all of the excitement from the women surrounding me.
We haven’t verbalized it, but I know most of us have been worried about how we’d be treated among the men, but seeing Marissa as the Head Coach gives me a lot of hope.
Sean put a woman in charge of the team; that’s confirmation that we’re going to be treated as equals.
Nils steps up to the microphone now. “I’ve been honored to serve as the Head Coach of the Denver Lizards for six incredible seasons, and I’m looking forward to working with the Comets as your Associate Coach.
I’ve known Coach Leverson for many years, and I have no doubt that she’s going to be an incredible leader for our team. ”
Nils steps aside and lets Marissa take his place.
“Thank you, both Nils and Sean. Becoming the Head Coach of an NHL team has been a dream of mine since I was still playing youth hockey. I thought being a Head Coach in the WHL was the closest I’d ever actually get, so imagine my surprise at this new adventure.
This will only be my fourth season coaching since I was hired right after I retired from the Seattle Supers, but I know I can do this team justice.
I’ve been eating and breathing hockey since I was four, and I look forward to helping the Comets in this new NHL. ”
Sean walks back up to the microphone again.
“I think it’s time now to announce our Comets’ roster.
For centers, we will have Cameron Kovacic, Isla Morin, Bruno Bauer, and Michael Perry.
Left wingers—Zhuri Hart, Nico Bieri, Venda Adam?íková, and Amalia Van Dijk.
Right wingers—Wes Caddel, Asher Wolfe, Clara Armstrong, and Aili Halla.
Defenders—Sidney Gagnon, Elisabet Almr, Theo Hughes, Lina Bradford, Reggie Wilder, and Marie Qualley.
And our goaltenders—Lev Morozov and Avery Litson.
Those of you that I just named, welcome to the Comets!
If your name wasn’t mentioned, then welcome to the Asteroids!
There is space for every one of us, and I know you’re each going to give these new teams your all. ”
Sean makes eye contact with me before turning his attention to Cameron.
“Now, I’d like Zhuri and Cameron to join me onstage.
” Cameron looks as confused as I am as we wordlessly join Sean, Marissa, and Nils.
“These two have served as incredible captains for their teams—Zhuri with the Dragons, and Cameron with the Lizards. The coaches and I believe that they can both continue to do incredible work with the Comets, so please welcome your new co-captains, Zhuri Hart and Cameron Kovacic!”
We both turn to stare at Sean, absolutely dumbfounded.
Cameron Kovacic, the man who’s always been a prick to me.
Cameron Kovacic, one of the most well-known names in hockey.
Cameron Kovacic, my fucking co-captain.
We’re not only sharing a rink now. We’re sharing a team, and we’re expected to do that together.
What could possibly go wrong?