Page 3 of In My Hockey Era
Ilove hockey buthatehow women fans are labeled as lusting after the guys.This book club doesn’t help.
“I get it.Growing the game is great.But this doesn’t grow the game.This turns the game into a gimmick.And it turns us—the real, die-hard female fans—into a punchline.And I, for one, am not laughing.”
I click off the recording, satisfied.The internet is about to have some feelings about this one.
2
ALL IN A DAY’S WORK
Bennett
Idrop into the chair in the team’s media room, drumming my fingers against the conference table as Vivian Carter, the Stampede’s head of PR, slides a folder across to me.My agent, Drew, sits beside her, looking like he’d rather be anywhere else.
“Alright, Wilder,” Vivian says, steepling her fingers.“Here’s what we need from you for the book club rollout.”
I grin, rubbing my hands together.“Book club.Love it.Let’s get into it.”
Drew sighs.“Why are you like this?”
“Like what?”I lean back, stretching my arms over my head.“A man of culture?A forward thinker?A player who gives a damn about the game and growing the fan base?”
“Painfully enthusiastic,” he mutters.
Vivian ignores him and flips open her folder.“As you know, our aim is to boost fan engagement, especially with growing our female audience.We thought this would be a brilliant marketing move, but so far, the response so far is… mixed.”
“Yeah?”I arch a brow.
I can’t say I expected that.This is like the least controversial thing I’ve done.That beer commercial caught unexpected flack because some conservative mom’s group thought an athlete who kids look up to shouldn’t be pushing alcohol …which I kind of got, but this is literally reading books—talk about harmless.
When they first pitched me the idea, I was happy to go along with it—free books, happy fans, and no downside, right?Now, I wait for her to continue as an uneasy feeling settles inside me.
She purses her lips.“It’s viral, so that’s a win.But we’ve got the usual ‘hockey isn’t for this’ crowd, plus some romance fans thrilled about it, and then—” She taps a fingernail on the folder.“—some of the hardcore Stampede fans who feel like this is a cheap PR stunt.”
“Oof.”I put a hand to my chest.“Right in the heart.”
Vivian doesn’t smile, but I swear I see the ghost of one.“Look, we know this is outside the usual playbook, but it’s a solid opportunity to bring in new fans.And you’re the guy for it.”
“Damn right, I am.”I smirk.“What do you need from me?”
Vivian pulls out a stack of books and sets them in front of me.“We’ll be filming some promo videos—nothing too complicated.Just you talking about the club, inviting fans to join, maybe holding up a book or two.You don’t actually have to read them, just—”
“Whoa, whoa, whoa.”I hold up a hand.“Did you just say I don’t have to read them?”
Drew groans.“Bennett—”
I grab the top book and flip it over, skimming the back cover.“Of course, I’m reading them.”
Vivian blinks.“I mean… that’s great, if you want to, but it’s not necessary.”
“It’s absolutely necessary.”I gesture to the pile.“If I’m putting my face on this, I need to know what I’m talking about.Plus, what if I end up loving them?”
Drew pinches the bridge of his nose.“You’re really gonna do this?”
“Dude, I grew up with two sisters.”I smirk.“I’ve readThe Hunger Gameslike six times.”
Not to mentionTwilight, and more romantasy than I care to remember.
Vivian exhales like she wasn’t expecting this to be so easy.“Well, that’s… great.”She keeps saying that word—like if she says it enough times, everything magically will be.She taps her pen against the folder.“You’ll also have some social media obligations—tweets, Instagram posts, maybe a TikTok or two—”
