Page 13 of Of Pucking Course

I skate over to him. “Yeah, Coach?”

He shifts over to the side of the ice so we’re away from everyone. “You’ve had a strong showing ever since you joined our team last month. You’re looking great every time you hit the ice.”

“Thank you.”

He narrows his gaze at me. “I think you’re holding back, though.”

I tense up, feeling a little nervous. “Really?”

He nods. “You’re a stellar defenseman. As reliable as they get. Any time the opposing team gets near you with the puck, you’re on it. You make it your mission not to let that puck into our net. But I think you could stand to score more.”

My nerves kick up. As a defenseman, my job is to defend against an opposing player whenever they try to score on our net. When I was a kid, I played winger and center, but I was never any good at those positions. I always buckled under the pressure of trying to score constantly.

Sometimes the stars align, and I manage to sink a lucky shot into the net. I’m always pumped when it happens, but it’s not often.

I’ve gotten used to being the guy who supports the forwards, who sets them up to score while I blend into the background. It’s what I’m comfortable with. The thought of doing anything to change that up makes me nervous.

“I know it’s probably a shock to hear me say that,” Porter says. “But I’m bringing it up because I’m your coach. I look for the potential in all of my players. If I know a player can do more than he’s doing, I want to help him get there. You’re an incredible defenseman, McKesson. I just think you have the potential to be something truly great if you let yourself.”

I take a moment to soak in everything he’s saying.

“Now that you’re paired with Connors, I think you’ll have a lot more opportunities to score,” he says. His gaze turns pointed. “Don’t be afraid to take them. You don’t always have to hold back and let your teammates have all the glory. You deserve it, too.”

He skates off, and I stand there for a minute, processing his words.

You don’t always have to hold back and let your teammates have all the glory. You deserve it too.

No coach has ever said that to me before. All of them have commended me for being the perfect defenseman. None of them has ever thought I should try to be anything other than that.

The certainty in Porter’s tone throws me off. I wonder what he sees in me that no other coach has seen.

The nerves from earlier spark through me. I don’t know if I have what it takes to be what Porter wants me to be. But I need to at least try.

A minute later, Coach Porter blows the whistle, signaling the end of practice. We all circle around him.

“Good effort, gentlemen,” he says. “I like what I saw out there. Energy. Enthusiasm. Skill. We’re in a good position to make the playoffs next month.”

Energy buzzes through me. I played for the Seattle Sea Monsters for almost three years. As much as I loved my team, the fans, and the city, we never made it to the playoffs. Now that I’m with Denver, this is my best shot at a run for the Cup, which is something I’ve always dreamed about. It’s something every pro hockey player wants.

“We’ve been to the playoffs two years,” Coach Porter says. “Both years ended with us losing in the round right before the final.”

He rests his hands on his hips and huffs out a breath. I take in the hard set of his jaw and the focused look in his eyes. Coach Porter is a serious, no-nonsense guy. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him smile. He doesn’t joke around. He doesn’t mince words. He’s serious about hockey and about winning.

He shakes his head as he looks at us. “But I have a feeling that third time is the charm for us this season. Let’s make it happen.”

We all holler our support. He dismisses us, and we make our way to the locker room.

“Anyone feel like grabbing a drink at Spanky’s?” Xander says as he pulls off his gear.

“I’m in,” Theo says.

“Me too,” Blomdahl says.

“Count me in. You coming?” Del asks me.

I shake my head. “I promised Dakota I’d help her unpack when I get home from practice.”

There’s a small spark of excitement inside of me. A second later, a pang of guilt follows. I shouldn’t be thisexcited for her to move in…especially when her brother is sitting next to me and doesn’t know about my crush on her.

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