Page 17 of Speak in Fever
"Good pass through traffic," Rath says, skating over to Percy with obvious satisfaction. "Saw you check the defense before releasing. Made it easier to time my movement."
It's a small thing—Percy taking an extra beat to ensure his pass had the best chance of success, Rath being ready to adapt when the puck didn't arrive exactly as planned. Not supernatural anticipation, just two players starting to understand each other's tendencies and adjust accordingly.
"Again," Coach calls, and they reset for another repetition. "This time I want to see some movement. Don't just stand in your spots—create better passing angles, force the defense to make decisions."
This time, Percy notices that Rath positions himself slightly differently, giving Percy a cleaner passing lane while still maintaining good scoring position. It's a subtle adjustment that shows Rath is thinking about making Percy's job easier, not just his own. The movement also draws one of the penalty killers away from the front of the net, creating more space for Torres to operate.
When the play develops, Percy's pass finds Rath cleanly, and Rath's quick release beats Harley again. But more importantly, the movement and spacing created multiple good options, making the play feel less forced and more organic.
"That's what I'm talking about," Coach says with approval. "Communication, adjustment, execution. You're reading each other and reacting accordingly. Run it one more time."
The third attempt is their best yet. Percy wins the faceoff cleanly and immediately looks for Rath, who's already moving to the space they've been working with. The pass is on target, Rath's positioning is perfect, and the shot goes exactly where he's aiming. Not because of some mystical connection, but because they're both doing their jobs well and starting to trust each other's decision-making.
"Stop the drill," Coach calls, his voice carrying satisfaction. "Everyone gather around."
The team clusters at center ice while Coach points at Percy and Rath with obvious approval. Percy feels heat rise in his cheeks at the public attention, but there's also a surge of pride at what they've accomplished.
"That progression we just saw—that's how chemistry develops," Coach explains, gesturing between Percy and Rath. "First attempt, you're figuring each other out. Second attempt, you're making adjustments based on what you learned. Third attempt, you're executing with confidence because you trust your partner to be where they need to be."
Percy feels the truth of that observation settle in his chest. The confidence he'd felt on that last play wasn't arrogance—it was trust. Trust that Rath would read the play correctly, trust that his positioning would create the opportunity they needed, trust that when Percy made his pass, Rath would be there to receive it.
"Chemistry isn't magic," Coach continues. "It's communication, repetition, and trust. What Killinger and Platts just showed us is what happens when two players commit to understanding each other's game."
The rest of the team nods approvingly, and Percy catches several teammates exchanging glances that suggest they're impressed with the improvement. JP gives him a subtle thumbs up from across the group, and Torres grins widely.
What follows is one of the better practices Percy's had in weeks. Every drill that pairs him with Rath produces incremental improvements—passes that are a little more accurate, positioning that creates better opportunities, timing that gets sharper with each repetition.
During a neutral zone regroup drill, Percy watches Rath's movement patterns and starts to recognize his preferences. Rath likes to attack the weak side, creating space by drawingdefenders before cutting back against the grain. When Percy adjusts his passes to hit Rath in the spots where he's most dangerous, the plays flow more smoothly.
In a cycle drill down low, they work on maintaining possession under pressure. Percy learns that Rath has excellent vision along the boards and can find passing lanes that might not be obvious to other players. When Rath makes a pass, Percy starts positioning himself not just where the puck is going, but where Rath's next pass will likely go based on how the defense reacts.
During a 4-on-4 scrimmage, Percy wins a face-off and immediately scans for options. The play is developing quickly, defenders converging, but Percy spots Rath breaking up the left wing and makes the pass to space, trusting that Rath will be there to receive it. The timing isn't perfect—Rath has to stretch to reach the puck—but he manages to corral it and create a scoring chance.
The shot doesn't go in, but the play itself feels significant. Percy made a decision based on trust rather than just hope, and Rath rewarded that trust by making the difficult play look routine. Not a highlight-reel moment, but solid hockey built on good decision-making and execution.
"Nice read," JP calls from the bench. "You're starting to find each other out there."
They continue their development as practice progresses, Coach deliberately pairing them for various drills to see how their partnership might evolve. Percy finds himself playing with growing confidence, making decisions based on his developing read of Rath's tendencies rather than just hoping for the best.
In a breakout drill, Percy starts to recognize the subtle cues that indicate where Rath wants the puck. The way Rath angles his body, the timing of his acceleration, the quick look over his shoulder that suggests he's spotted an opportunity—all of these become part of Percy's decision-making process.
During a 2-on-1 drill, they work on quick decision-making under pressure. Percy learns that Rath has excellent hands in tight spaces and can handle passes that might be difficult for other players. This knowledge allows Percy to make passes that might seem risky but are actually calculated based on Rath's abilities.
By the time Coach calls the final drill, they've established a rhythm that feels sustainable rather than tenuous. Percy knows roughly where Rath likes to position himself in different situations. Rath has figured out Percy's passing preferences and timing. Neither is perfect, but both are building the foundation for something more effective.
"One more power play," Coach announces, setting up the cones for a final 5-on-3 simulation. "Killinger, Platts, show me what you've learned today."
Percy takes his position with quiet confidence, aware of Rath's presence and generally certain about the play they want to run. The familiarity feels good—not the kind of taken-for-granted familiarity that leads to complacency, but the comfortable awareness that comes from understanding your teammate's game.
When the puck comes to him, Percy can see multiple passing options, but one looks clearly better than the others based on what he's learned about Rath's positioning preferences. Rath has found space in the high slot, but more importantly, he's positioned himself where Percy feels most confident making the pass.
The pass he makes is solid—not threading through impossible spaces, but finding Rath in the spot where he's most dangerous. Rath's reception is clean, his shot well-placed, beating Harley with good technique rather than pure luck. The goal feels inevitable rather than fortunate, the natural result of two players who understand how to work together.
"What the fuck," Torres says from the bench, his voice carrying across the ice. "It's like watching a complete turnaround from last season."
They make their way off the ice and Percy finds himself reflecting on how much has changed from one practice session. The improvement isn't just individual—it's relational, built on the growing understanding between him and Rath. When they're not overthinking their chemistry, when they're just playing hockey and trusting each other to make good decisions, they actually work well together.
"That felt good," Rath says as they reach the tunnel, bumping his shoulder into Percy's arm.
