Page 10 of Second Round

“Unfortunately, Bob won’t be able to return to coaching for a long time,” Lucky continued. Nobody looked particularly shocked at this news. Pankowski was on the last year of his contract, and with the team’s iron grip on last place in the league, there was no chance he was getting renewed. “Anyway, as you know, we’ve made a few changes in our management and ownership group in the past month. We’ve got a new commitment to winning here at the Vice. And as part of this commitment, I’m proud to say that we’ve been able to land a new coach who’s going to lead us on that road. He’s won championships at every level he’s coached at—Canadian university finals, the Memorial Cup, and the World Juniors. And he’s going to do the samethinghere.”

During Lucky’s big build-up, I tried to remain expressionless. Personally, I didn’t like to overpromise. The Vice were no championship team, but if we were going to put money into facilities and new players, then we could be a helluva lot better nextseason.

Lucky turned towards me. “Guys, I’d like you to meet your new coach, LeoGauthier.”

There was enthusiastic applause. Every player in the room knew what a coach coming in right now meant; they had a few weeks to impress me for next year’s contract. Guys were going to be on their best behaviour for the rest of the season—in front of me atleast.

I moved forward. “Thanks for the great welcome, guys. As we know, there’s not much time left in the regular season. And to face facts, many of you will not be in this roomnextyear.”

There was a shocked hush after I said that, but I believed in honesty when it came to player communications. “But each remaining game is a chance to improve your skills and habits and become better players. We may be out of the playoffs, but our remaining games are still going to count. We’ll be playing teams still trying to make the playoffs or improve their positions, so we can measure our best games againsttheirs.

“I will be meeting with every one of you this week. As well, if you have questions, come and see me. I have a revolving door policy. Also, I’m a straight shooter. Since we have so little time together, there’s no time to bullshit. What I’m most proud of in my career is not winning championships but helping every one of my players to maximize his on-ice performance. It’s the only way we can win—as a team, with every man playing athispeak.”

A few players nodded, but most looked skeptical. Maybe they’d heard similar things in the past, or maybe they were beaten down. Losing did that to teams. They lost their enthusiasm for the game and began to shut downmentally.

“Okay, let’s get out on the ice and get warmed up.” I pulled out my skates and laced them up. Ian Lee sat beside me. He was the offensive coach, and J.P. Tellier ran thedefense.

“You just got in last night, right?” he asked. “Are you set for practice already? J.P. and I could run it ifyouwant.”

“It’s okay, we’ll do a general practice. I’m not going to work on anything specific, but from what I saw last night, third period fitness is an issue. So I want us to really pick up the pacetoday.”

“I didn’t know you were at the game,” he commented. He looked worried, as any assistant might when a new head coachcamein.

“Yeah, I missed the first period, but I saw the rest.” The rest being an enormous beat-down that we ended up losing 6-2. I had heard they were bad, but the Vancouver Vice were the biggest gong show that I had ever seen. Half of the team would have been cut back in Albany, and even the decent players didn’t know a system from their big toe. The assistants were right to be worried, since by all rights they should have been able to take over the head coaching duties for a month, but apparently they’d had a head coach who told everyone when to wipe theirasses.

Today wasn’t going to be a bag skate, but damn close. I wanted to see how players reacted to new physical challenges this late in the season. We went through basic drills but at increasingspeeds.

“Faster,” I yelled. “Game speed.” It was like these guys were skating through mud. I whistled it down. “Okay. Last drill.Suicides.”

There was a low groan from some of the players. I took note of who they were. I split the team in two and positioned them at the opposite ends of the ice. “Black team. Blue Line. Hard, go hard. Now White Team. BlueLine.Hard!”

They sprinted back and forth, with little rest between, but most of the guys were slacking. I whistled to stop thedrill.

“Full speed, boys. I want to see one hundred percent effort.” I called out the numbers of the guys who had been working their asses off. “You guys are done, hit the showers. Everyone else, again. At fullspeed.”

It took another fifteen minutes to get the rest of the team finished. Tellier reported back to me, “Some guys are puking backthere.”

I shook my head. “They could have been done sooner, but they’re not very fast learners, are they? When I say one hundred percent, I mean it. Let’s see if they get thatthisweek.”

My new office was a mess of paper, binders, and a surprising amount of food. Apparently, Bob Pankowski spent a lot of time at the rink. Not to blame the victim, but it didn’t look like he had been living the healthiest lifestyle. As I was clearing the desk for my laptop, there was a knock on theopendoor.

“Hey, Coach.” Rico Aleppo poked hisheadin.

“Come on in,”Isaid.

He sat down in the rickety chair across from me. He stared down at his hands and began cracking hisknuckles.

“What’s up, Rico?” Iaskedhim.

“The guys call me Lepper,”hesaid.

I nodded. “Okay,Lepper.”

He continued, “Well, I, uh, wondered. What’s going to happen to Coach Panner? I mean, you’re here now, so he’s not going to come back,right?”

I was surprised by his question, but it was probably a delaying tactic. Nobody wanted to point out to the new coach that he’d beensucking.

“Well, I don’t know. I can find out for you, ifyouwant.”

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