Page 32 of Offside and Off-Limits
“How about Make it Rain?” I say.
“Unless we’re going to stick them in a shower…?”
“Ah, no,” I reply with a laugh. I lean back in my chair as a name hits me. “Veronica, I think I’ve got it. Drench for Defense. It’s got a double meaning: hockey defense and defending the town from redevelopment.”
“Drench for Defense. It’s perfect!” Veronica declares, and I can’t help but feel proud of both my idea and the name I came up for it. “I can see this getting a lot of attention online. You know, I haven't lived in this town all that long, but Maple Falls has really grown on me. I love that the team could help to protect it. I suggest you start by talking with Coach Hauser. Once you’ve got him on board, you’re halfway there.”
“Will do.”
“Now, have you spoken with Cade Lennox about doing some more videos with you?”
My pulse leaps at the mention of his name. “Ah, yes. He’s happy to do so.” My voice sounds strangled, so I clear my throat and concentrate on looking as professional as possible. Which really shouldn't be hard. I mean, it's not like we’re involved or anything. He's just flirty and frequently shirtless—which is proving to be a potent combination for me.
But I’ve got it under control.
“That’s good news. I noticed that livestream video has had over 2.3 million views. Capitalizing on that is the smart thing to do.” She pauses before she adds, “But be careful with Cade, Clara. We can all see his appeal, but he has a certain reputation.In fact, I’ve been told he almost got traded for carrying on with the owner’s daughter at the NYC Blades six or seven years ago.”
My jaw drops. “That doesn't surprise me.”
He’s Cade Lennox: womanizer of the year.
“Just watch yourself around him. I know we’ve asked you to work closely with him, but we have a non-fraternization policy for very good reasons. In fact, I would say Cade Lennox is the primary reason for it on the Ice Breakers.” She smiles as though she’s making a joke, but there’s an undercurrent in her words that tells me to stay away from Cade in ALL CAPS.
Message received, boss, loud and clear.
“Of course, Veronica, and you can trust that I would never do anything to compromise my position here at the Ice Breakers. I love this job, and I’m determined to make a success of it.”
“That's great to hear, Clara. I have total faith in you.”
We spend the rest of the meeting agreeing on all the details of both Drench for Defense and my upcoming social media campaigns—both with Cade and otherwise—before I head down to the ice to catch the tail end of the team practice to get some more content.
The team is doing tough drills that could make lesser players weep. It’s hard not to admire the athleticism and speed of these guys, nimbly moving around the ice and changing direction at the drop of a hat.
I begin to record the drills, noticing how the different personalities of the team members come out. The captain, Jamie Hayes, is standing at center ice, the team lining up along the boards.
“This drill simulates late-game line changes under pressure. We need to be sharper with those before our first game in a couple weeks,” he says.
“You got it, Captain,” Cade calls out, and I position myself to capture the team as Jamie divides them into offensive and defensive positions.
I notice Cade move into his position on the right wing.
“I want to see three passes minimum before any shot at goal.Got it?" Jamie shouts, and the players’ helmet-covered heads nod. He drops the puck and there’s a burst of motion, a frenzy of athleticism and technique, Cade passing the puck to Asher, who swoops across the ice at lightning speed before he passes to Carson, who makes a successful shot at goal.
Coach Hauser blows his whistle and calls out, “Change!” and the first group of guys skate to the side and a new bunch takes over.
Having grown up in a hockey-obsessed town, with my brother-in-law Dan, joining the NHL right out of college, I’ve seen my fair share of games. But I’ve never witnessed a practice at this level, and it’s mesmerizing to see the guys hone their skills, their talent and teamwork on show. Fans will lap up not only the players’ skill, but the team dynamic, including Jamie’s leadership that shows exactly why he has that capital “C” on his jersey.
I note Carson Crane’s precision in shooting practice and capture the look on his face that screams intensity. I capture Lucian’s efficiency and determination in his defensive positioning, and Weston’s prowess. Nate Simpson is constantly trying to catch the coach’s attention, doing flashy moves with varying degrees of success, and I film his look of elation as Coach Hauser praises one.
I capture it every time one of the guys pats another on the back or shoulder or butt—why the butt?—to congratulate their teammate on a good shot in between drills.
I’m going to use all of this content, the ideas forming in my mind.
But as much as I’m capturing footage of each member of the team, my gaze keeps returning to Cade as he moves with practiced ease on the ice. He’s the embodiment of that expression “poetry in motion,” his movements both fluid yet powerful, his shots confident and precise. For a player with his reputation off the ice, he sure is incredible to watch on it, and I can't help but be impressed with his sheermuscularity, speed, and strength.
By the time the team has finished, I've got enough content to keep the growing fanbase happy for weeks to come, and my next task will be to massage it into eye-catching videos and static posts.
How many of us get to record hunky men in a show of incredible athleticism for a living?
