Page 241 of Wrong Pucking Player

“I knew this would happen.”

Mr. Champion just laughs.

“You did warn me,” he admits but is all smiles as he looks around the table at each of us until he’s nodding in approval. “With everyone accounted for, we wanted to be the first to reveal the news.”

“We’re doomed,” Silas groans in nervousness. “If this is the end of the road, Mr. Champion, can you at least ensure we stick together as a team? That includes our team nurses, equipment manager, and even Leo, though I don’t know what the hell he does.”

“Hey,” Leo begins with a scowl. “I collaborate with Strattonville Stadium’s Fitness Center as one of the co-founders of Strattonville Gym. I’m important.”

“Hush, Leo,” Caren hisses. “I want the suspense to end already.”

“We have no intention of breaking you guys up,” Mr. Champion announces, looking pleased with what Silas just commented earlier. “With how your performance on the ice today, matched with the days preceding toward this first game, I’d say on the contrary, the dynamic between the Pincers is rather strong.”

Everyone seems to hold their breath as Mr. Champion carries on.

“Though we’ve obviously noticed some hiccups and a few individuals not showing the same team support, Coach Johnson and I wanted to share a decision we actually finalized an hour ago.”

Now we’re really on our toes about what this decision could be.

“I’d have to make a special acknowledgment of Nurse Andrews’ involvement in this decision because prior to such, the chances were fifty-fifty.”

“Me?” I’m shocked as I point to myself. “W-What did I do?”

“I’m not sure you remember talking to an individual last week during the team’s outdoor training session on the track. This was a few days after advances were announced,” Mr. Champion brings up.

He’s referring to Mr. Tobias.

I slowly nod but don’t reveal his name to respect his privacy. I’m sure Mr. Champion will share if it’s deemed important in this scenario.

“Well, he was so moved by your detailed assessment of the Saskatchewan Pincers and their potential as a unit that he has personally vouched to becoming a long-term sponsor of Strattonville Stadium with the agreed compromise that, regardless of the end of the hockey initiative, to support the growth of the Saskatchewan Pincers.”

“No way,” I whisper and am kind of thankful my hands are beneath the table and in Armani’s and Wyatt’s grasp or else they would be shaking in nerves. “Wh-What does that mean?”

Coach Johnson grins as his eyes glimmer with pride.

“What this means is Pincers will become an officially established team by the end of the season, based on the current members sitting around this table,” he reveals and peers over to Mr. Champion who further nods in approval.

“Which brings us to the next confirmed news is that we’ve agreed to increase all of your original advances.”

“No fucking way,” Ryker whispers. “B-By how much? Like what difference are we talking about here? An extra twenty grand?”

“Nonsense,” Mr. Champion sounds appalled at such a number. “We’ve agreed that every Pincer here would be given a minimum of one million salary boost.”

No one says a word.

Not a single word.

Leaving Coach Johnson and Mr. Champion to exchange looks before they’re smiling proudly back at our group.

“When we originally made the advances, we were well aware of what the Vipers were asking for. We assumed Pincers would do the same, but we’ve been informed and witnessed ourselves of your captain’s actions throughout this hockey initiative to sabotage the team for his own personal benefit,” Mr. Champion reveals.

“As your coach, I’m the first to notice the strong dynamics within this team. I’m also the first to notice discrepancies and what isn’t working,” Coach Johnson emphasizes. “I want to be the first to say Winchester’s behavior isn’t what we approve of. Not in the slightest. The common saying that there is no I in TEAM is as strong as ever in the realms of hockey because not a single player can carry the entire team to victory. You will always need another person to aid you in doing well on the ice, and without team play, you’re merely setting yourselves up for failure.”

He takes a moment to look around the table, acknowledging our full attention as he reveals what he’s observed the last few weeks.

“We didn’t say anything because we wanted to see how far things would go. In fact, we wanted this to be an experiment on two accounts. The first with the intention of observing what the players would do when they find out the initial advances presented in the contracts, and the second account revolves around the public’s acknowledgment of these misdemeanors between the captain’s advance versus the rest of the team players.”

“The public backlash was a good thing because as we know for small towns, or Strattonville in particular, we’re the type of town that enjoys ignoring the wrongs many commit, both publicly and behind closed doors. Those who commit these actions normally carry no sense of guilt and oftentimes believe they can get away with it because they’ve painted a persona or image that makes them look too good to do wrong. A Sinner who’s perceived to be a saint to the world,” Coach Johnson elaborates.

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