Page 203 of Wrong Pucking Player

Without Winchester benefiting, of course.

My eyes scan around, noticing how our rival teammates are just as emotionally moved as we are by O’Riley’s words.

Only some of them are on the verge of tears.

“My team’s success is my priority as Captain of Strattonville Vipers. As long as we give each game our all, that’s all that matters to me. I’m not here for the money or the fame, and if Mr. Champion had allowed it, I would have taken a pay cut. However, they said I can always donate money to charities or back to our team to further improve our path toward success. Either way, my goal when entering that meeting room was to secure my team’s future and make sure everyone was happy with the results. I think I did exactly that.”

Almost twenty years in the world of hockey, from childhood all the way to now, this is the first time I’ve heard a captain speak in such a manner.

A true team player.

Who wants to see everyone go up?

Without the need to be better than the rest of his comrades.

Maddox O’Riley Wilson is the true definition of what a real team captain is all about.

Odd to say how I aspire to be like someone who ensures everyone is accounted for.

He lays a light kiss on top of Mikayla’s head before he lets go to look at his fellow players.

“You guys satisfied with the deal? I can’t really do anything to change it now since advances are going to be sent out tonight after the game, but—” He doesn’t finish because he’s being hugged by the masses.

These men aren’t just moved by what O’Riley has done. They’re crying their eyes out as they hug their captain like their lives depend on it.

“Fuck, O’Riley,” Marcus doesn’t hide his emotions as he’s sobbing like crazy. “You know how much this means to me? Fuck… half a mil? I can clear my dad’s medical bills.”

“I can help clear my family’s home and retire my parents who work on a farm,” Clayton admits.

“It’s more than enough to help with my mom’s chemo treatments,” Ethan whispers as he fights to wipe away his tears.

Knox walks over to Maddox and pats his shoulders.

“Fuck, Maddox. This advance alone can help all of us, whether it’s medical bills that aren’t covered by OHIP to clearing our family’s homes and debt. Why the hell would we not be satisfied?”

“I… don’t know,” Maddox admits. “I just wanted to make sure you guys are happy.”

“Beyond happy,” Sebastian whispers as he’s fighting off his own tears. “I can sponsor my parents to come here and get proper healthcare.”

“I can clear my siblings’ educational debt. Heck, my sis can go to fucking medical school and not be working as a server at the bar that treats her like shit,” Garret admits.

“I can make sure my dad can get the best hospice care.”

We’re all surprised by Felix’s admission, our eyes finding him as he’s wiping away his tears that won’t stop falling, even as he genuinely smiles at his teammates.

I only knew about him because Jayce didn’t like him. I never understood what the big deal was, but whether it was because he was confident in himself to come out as gay or was attracted to make Winchester’s cock twitch which pissed him off.

Either way, I didn’t really mess with any of the Vipers, but I knew them at least by name and appearance.

“The surgery my dad needed was way out of our budget, and if we went to the United States, it would be triple the cost, so we had no choice but to put him in hospice care. Sadly, the facilities are full unless you’re well off, so he’s been uncomfortable at home, barely getting proper meds,” he reveals as he’s on the verge of crying again. “It’s probably too late now to get him that surgery, but the fact I can make his final days or even months comfortable makes this a lot easier, you know? It’s hard enough being open about your sexuality and getting hate, but my dad has always been my number one supporter, so I wanted to enter this by being authentic and true to myself. He’ll be happy it’s paying off.”

“Felix,” Mikayla whispers.

Dimitri moves to give him a hug while Marcus, Knox, Sebastian, and Garrett walk over to give him words of encouragement.

“Yo, Felix. Can’t you check if your pops can be qualified for the surgery now that you have the funds?” Mitchel surprisingly steps in as he walks over to the group.

“I could,” he admits but doesn’t look hopeful. “But I doubt, even with money, we could get in. I remember, at the time, the waitlist was a few months down. Now, it’s probably two to three years.”

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