~* I own nothing but Tori.*~
The Ducks sat on the benches in the locker room chattering loudly as the door swung open. The team fell silent as coach Orion walked in with his clipboard in his hand and whistle hanging from his neck. His shoulders were straight and he was dripping with control, it was the first day of the Ducks junior season, the first day of being Varsity.
"All right team, let's get out on the ice." As the team filed out in a line the coach noticed someone missing. "Where's Dwayne?"
"Haven't seem him coach." Charlie answered for the group
"I told him if he wanted to be on the equestrian team, he was going to have to be certain it wouldn't interfere with hockey practice, or else he'd have to pick one." Orion furrowed his brow. "Oh well that's extra laps for him, everyone out."
The team was spread out on the ice in opposing scrimmage teams, when the rink door squeaked open and closed with a loud thud. Everyone turned their heads, no one ever interrupted hockey practice unless it was absolutely dire. Standing in front of the door, with their leg in a cast and crutches under their arms, was Dwayne. The blood immediately drained from Orion's face, he could see his season going into the trash and taking his position as Varsity coach with it.
The Ducks skated over to the boards as Dwayne hobbled his way over to the bench and sat with a pained groan.
"What in God's name…?" Orion asked.
Dwayne sighed
"I was at riding practice coach and I reckon my horse got spooked, because it reared up and threw me."
"How bad is it?" Julie questioned worriedly
"My ankle's sprained and I broke two toes." The boy explained.
"How long will you be out?" Charlie queried.
"About a month."
Orion rubbed his temples like he was getting a migraine. There was less then a week until their first game and his best puck handler was out for a good part of the season. How was he going to replace him in seven days? And even if he could find one, how would he find someone that would play well with the Ducks.
""We're gonna need a new player." The coach declared causing the entire team to turn and look at him. "Does anyone have any ideas?"
"What about Jesse?" Russ suggested, even though their friendship started out rocky Russ really missed having another African American on the team, sometimes he just felt like the token black guy.
Banks shook his head.
"He won't come, he refuses to go to school with so many preps."
"How bout one of the dudes you all played with before the JR. Good Will Games?" Was Portman's idea.
"They all gave up hockey after we won the state championship, that's why we had to take you guys to California." Guy replied.
"Alright, I'm going to my office to call Gordon, maybe he'll have some thoughts." Orion tapped his clipboard against his thigh agitatedly. "Charlie you come with me, Luis help Dwayne back to your room and the rest of you twenty laps and hit the showers."
The coach sat in his desk chair, with it pointed out the window, looking out over the athletics field. His headache felt like it would split open his cranium and he squeezed his eyes closed. Charlie was on the phone talking to Bombay, he'd volunteered to call and Orion was all to willing to let him.
"So you think she'll come?" He heard his team captain ask. "Okay, hold on. Coach, Bombay wants to talk to you for a minute."
Orion took the phone and placed it to his ear, wincing at the pain because by Gordon's voice.
Orion: Hey Gordon, so you have someone in mind?
Bombay: Yeah as a matter of fact. I've been scouting this girl Victoria Farrell from Rhode Island for the Good Will Games, she seems right up your alley. She's pretty serious, doesn't horse around much on the ice. I'm just not sure how she'll fit in with our Ducks.
Orion: Do you think there'll be a problem?
Bombay: I dunno, the kids aren't all that great about accepting new players. But I guess they really have no choice, because weather you take Victoria or not, you still need someone to fill the roster.
Orion: Exactly.
Bombay: Okay then, I'll get a hold of the girl and her parents, you go get the go ahead from dean Buckley. Oh and tell Dwayne I hope he feels better.
Orion: Will do, thanks Gordon.
Two Days later the entire team, plus Coach Orion and Bombay were standing in an airport, waiting for the terminal to be announced. No one was certain what this new girl was going to be like, even if she was going to play well with them. When a voice on came over the intercom and announced 'Flight 109 Warwick's TF Green Airport to Minneapolis has arrived at get 87A' they all set out to welcome the girl.
As captain Charlie had been roped into holding the sign with the words 'Vicky Farrell' written on it. And his arms were falling asleep as they just stood on there waiting for her.
Then a girl appeared in the tunnel, that just had to be her. She was wearing a Providence Bruins jersey, black cargo pants and sketchers, carrying a gear bag that looked like it was twice the size of her. Her brown eyes were sharp and fast like those of a bird of prey and instantly she spotted the banner reading her name.
"I'm Victoria Farrell, you must be Ted Orion, former Minnesota North Star." The girl dropped her bag and extended her hand to the coach. "It's nice to meet you."
Orion looked at her oddly and nodded.
"Well it's nice to meet you too Vicky, let me introduce you to the team."
"Oh it's Victoria or Tori please not Vicky, but no introductions necessary. Let me see if I can remember everyone." Tori walked to the front of the line of young hockey players, starting with Jules. "You're Julie 'The Cat' Gaffney from Bangor Maine, number 06 and basically Patrick Roy in a dress. Next is Connie Moreau, 18, use to be known as 'The Velvet Hammer' and also the only female member of the peewee championship team still playing. Guy Germaine, you're double 0, and probably the most consistent player on the team, unfortunately that usually gets over shadowed by the accomplishments of everyone else. Then we have LA's own Russ Tyler, 56 and the creator of the knuckle puck Fulton Reed, the original Bash Brother with a slap shot that rivals any in the NHL and you're number 44.."
"I told you she was serious." Gordon whispered to Ted as Tori continued running off the list of stats.
"Lastly is… is…" She stumbled. "Hold on, give me a second. Oh right, Adam Banks, team star. That leads me to believe you'll be the hardest to get along with."
Banks gave her a confused expression, he'd been called a lot of things in his life but hard to get along with wasn't one of them. He was one of if not the most easy going person on the Ducks and generally tried to get along with everybody. Tori however struck him as having the I'm a great player so worship me attitude. He didn't like that one bit.
"On question." Averman held up his hand like he was in school waiting to be called on. "How do you know all this about us."
Tori blushed.
"I studied on plane."
"Well on behave of the Ducks, I'd like to say welcome." Charlie leaned down and picked up the girl's bag. "We ready to roll coach?"
Orion gave him a 'yes' gesture and the group set on out of the airport.
The Ducks sat on the benches in the locker room chattering loudly as the door swung open. The team fell silent as coach Orion walked in with his clipboard in his hand and whistle hanging from his neck. His shoulders were straight and he was dripping with control, it was the first day of the Ducks junior season, the first day of being Varsity.
"All right team, let's get out on the ice." As the team filed out in a line the coach noticed someone missing. "Where's Dwayne?"
"Haven't seem him coach." Charlie answered for the group
"I told him if he wanted to be on the equestrian team, he was going to have to be certain it wouldn't interfere with hockey practice, or else he'd have to pick one." Orion furrowed his brow. "Oh well that's extra laps for him, everyone out."
The team was spread out on the ice in opposing scrimmage teams, when the rink door squeaked open and closed with a loud thud. Everyone turned their heads, no one ever interrupted hockey practice unless it was absolutely dire. Standing in front of the door, with their leg in a cast and crutches under their arms, was Dwayne. The blood immediately drained from Orion's face, he could see his season going into the trash and taking his position as Varsity coach with it.
The Ducks skated over to the boards as Dwayne hobbled his way over to the bench and sat with a pained groan.
"What in God's name…?" Orion asked.
Dwayne sighed
"I was at riding practice coach and I reckon my horse got spooked, because it reared up and threw me."
"How bad is it?" Julie questioned worriedly
"My ankle's sprained and I broke two toes." The boy explained.
"How long will you be out?" Charlie queried.
"About a month."
Orion rubbed his temples like he was getting a migraine. There was less then a week until their first game and his best puck handler was out for a good part of the season. How was he going to replace him in seven days? And even if he could find one, how would he find someone that would play well with the Ducks.
""We're gonna need a new player." The coach declared causing the entire team to turn and look at him. "Does anyone have any ideas?"
"What about Jesse?" Russ suggested, even though their friendship started out rocky Russ really missed having another African American on the team, sometimes he just felt like the token black guy.
Banks shook his head.
"He won't come, he refuses to go to school with so many preps."
"How bout one of the dudes you all played with before the JR. Good Will Games?" Was Portman's idea.
"They all gave up hockey after we won the state championship, that's why we had to take you guys to California." Guy replied.
"Alright, I'm going to my office to call Gordon, maybe he'll have some thoughts." Orion tapped his clipboard against his thigh agitatedly. "Charlie you come with me, Luis help Dwayne back to your room and the rest of you twenty laps and hit the showers."
The coach sat in his desk chair, with it pointed out the window, looking out over the athletics field. His headache felt like it would split open his cranium and he squeezed his eyes closed. Charlie was on the phone talking to Bombay, he'd volunteered to call and Orion was all to willing to let him.
"So you think she'll come?" He heard his team captain ask. "Okay, hold on. Coach, Bombay wants to talk to you for a minute."
Orion took the phone and placed it to his ear, wincing at the pain because by Gordon's voice.
Orion: Hey Gordon, so you have someone in mind?
Bombay: Yeah as a matter of fact. I've been scouting this girl Victoria Farrell from Rhode Island for the Good Will Games, she seems right up your alley. She's pretty serious, doesn't horse around much on the ice. I'm just not sure how she'll fit in with our Ducks.
Orion: Do you think there'll be a problem?
Bombay: I dunno, the kids aren't all that great about accepting new players. But I guess they really have no choice, because weather you take Victoria or not, you still need someone to fill the roster.
Orion: Exactly.
Bombay: Okay then, I'll get a hold of the girl and her parents, you go get the go ahead from dean Buckley. Oh and tell Dwayne I hope he feels better.
Orion: Will do, thanks Gordon.
Two Days later the entire team, plus Coach Orion and Bombay were standing in an airport, waiting for the terminal to be announced. No one was certain what this new girl was going to be like, even if she was going to play well with them. When a voice on came over the intercom and announced 'Flight 109 Warwick's TF Green Airport to Minneapolis has arrived at get 87A' they all set out to welcome the girl.
As captain Charlie had been roped into holding the sign with the words 'Vicky Farrell' written on it. And his arms were falling asleep as they just stood on there waiting for her.
Then a girl appeared in the tunnel, that just had to be her. She was wearing a Providence Bruins jersey, black cargo pants and sketchers, carrying a gear bag that looked like it was twice the size of her. Her brown eyes were sharp and fast like those of a bird of prey and instantly she spotted the banner reading her name.
"I'm Victoria Farrell, you must be Ted Orion, former Minnesota North Star." The girl dropped her bag and extended her hand to the coach. "It's nice to meet you."
Orion looked at her oddly and nodded.
"Well it's nice to meet you too Vicky, let me introduce you to the team."
"Oh it's Victoria or Tori please not Vicky, but no introductions necessary. Let me see if I can remember everyone." Tori walked to the front of the line of young hockey players, starting with Jules. "You're Julie 'The Cat' Gaffney from Bangor Maine, number 06 and basically Patrick Roy in a dress. Next is Connie Moreau, 18, use to be known as 'The Velvet Hammer' and also the only female member of the peewee championship team still playing. Guy Germaine, you're double 0, and probably the most consistent player on the team, unfortunately that usually gets over shadowed by the accomplishments of everyone else. Then we have LA's own Russ Tyler, 56 and the creator of the knuckle puck Fulton Reed, the original Bash Brother with a slap shot that rivals any in the NHL and you're number 44.."
"I told you she was serious." Gordon whispered to Ted as Tori continued running off the list of stats.
"Lastly is… is…" She stumbled. "Hold on, give me a second. Oh right, Adam Banks, team star. That leads me to believe you'll be the hardest to get along with."
Banks gave her a confused expression, he'd been called a lot of things in his life but hard to get along with wasn't one of them. He was one of if not the most easy going person on the Ducks and generally tried to get along with everybody. Tori however struck him as having the I'm a great player so worship me attitude. He didn't like that one bit.
"On question." Averman held up his hand like he was in school waiting to be called on. "How do you know all this about us."
Tori blushed.
"I studied on plane."
"Well on behave of the Ducks, I'd like to say welcome." Charlie leaned down and picked up the girl's bag. "We ready to roll coach?"
Orion gave him a 'yes' gesture and the group set on out of the airport.