Page 18 of Hockey 101

You get what his real issue is, don’t you? he asks.

Not really. Although O.D. has been unfriendly from the beginning, I figured that was just his personality. He doesn’t even know me yet.

Mats’s tone is patient. What position does he play?

Right D, like me, I answer. Then something occurs to me. Oh, wait. Does he think we’re in competition or something? We’re teammates, we should be supporting each other.

That’s the way I like to play. On the bench, the defence talks and shares stuff about the opposition’s tendencies. In the dressing room, we boost each other and joke about how much harder we work than the forwards.

Mats snorts. Jesus, Sinc. Get out of dreamland. Of course he sees you as a threat. O.D. had to work his way up to the top four. Now you show up. You’re a little raw, but you’re faster and more skilled. And you soak up the coaching advice.

I want to repeat how stupid this is, but Mats must be right. After all, O.D. is a senior, so this is his last chance to extend his hockey career—not only in playing time this season, but any chance to play pro hockey afterwards.

What can I do to get him on side? I ask.

Mats laughs. You’re never going to be besties exchanging friendship bracelets. I’m telling you this so you’ll watch your back. Like at the party tonight.

What happened at your rookie party?

It was pretty harmless. But there was a lot of drinking. Last year one of the rookies got alcohol poisoning and missed the first exhibition game. Coach was not impressed.

I sigh. Rookie parties are a way for the new guys to feel like they’re becoming part of the team, so of course I want that. But it sounds like some guys are more old school and want the rookies to suffer. Especially ones they already dislike.

How did you avoid that? The pressure? I ask.

I left early, he says.

Fuck. I wish I were more like Mats. He’s got so much self-confidence and truly doesn’t care whether people like him or not. On the other hand, I’m driven to get along with everyone. People-pleasing is my strength when it comes to being coached, but it can be a weakness too.

You were a rookie but you still got to leave? I question.

Of course I got hassled, but I wasn’t some teenaged freshman. And neither are you. He pins me with a level stare, then shakes his head. If I were going tonight, I could keep an eye out for you, but Lana has some sorority event I promised to go to.

Mats’s girlfriend, Lana Hillier, creates video content for the college’s social media sites. They met when she interviewed him for a hockey story. I love parties, but now I’m getting nervous about tonight. I wish I had a girlfriend to use as an excuse to leave early.

We walk up the porch steps, and after Mats unlocks the door, he puts a hand on my shoulder. Sinc, just do whatever you’re comfortable doing. You can always say no. You can leave if you want.

My stomach twists. I know, but team unity is important too.

Sure, but you don’t have to sacrifice yourself for the team, he cautions. It’s impossible for everyone to like you.

Yeah, but I have to at least try. Maybe I can win over O.D. somehow.

LATER, I HEAD over to the party alone, since the rookies have to be there on time. It’s taking place at some address on the other side of St. Viola, instead of at one of the hockey houses. On the way, I run into a couple of the other rookies, Sean Burlington and Logan Pederson. They don’t seem nervous at all, so that’s reassuring.

Burly yawns. Why is this starting so early? Good parties don’t start until midnight.

To give our livers time to recover before Saturday’s game, I reply.

It’s only exhibition, he scoffs.

I frown, but keep quiet. Every game is important when you’re still proving yourself.

Jesus, whose house is this? It’s a dump, Peddy says when we arrive. It’s an older place and it looks pretty run down. There’s a ripped and sagging couch dumped in the front yard. The patchy lawn is strewn with random bits of garbage. But the windows are lit up, and we can hear music blasting inside.

We walk in and are immediately met with cries of Fresh meat! The first thing I notice is a pyramid of beer bottles. There’s more beer than I’ve ever seen in one place, other than the liquor store.

The second thing I notice is that the rookies who are already here look ridiculous, dressed in tiny black skirts and frilly aprons.

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