Page 5 of Drop the Gloves
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Evan pushedinto the training facility, relieved to be out of the summer heat.He’d never quite adjusted to the humidity in Pittsburgh, or to the heat.But rinks were familiar everywhere in the world.In a few days, he’d hit the ice again with his teammates, and he’d really feel like he was home.
But today was for off-ice training in the gym.It wasn’t as if he’d spent all summer doing nothing.He’d gone on runs through Peterborough.He’d skated at the rink where he’d grown up and done drills with some of the same coaches who’d helped him get this far.Still, he didn’t feel ready for the physical stress of another NHL season.He’d need to spend some serious time on a treadmill and at the weight rack to feel up to snuff again.
Today he’d focus on getting his lungs back.Despite his new contract and the security it afforded him, Evan didn’t want to look out of shape when the pre-season started.In some ways, the pre-season was more competitive than the early regular season games because every rookie, prospect, and AHL-hopeful had something to prove.
Competitive might not be the best word, he considered.Aggressive.That was it.Too many players were hanging their egos on so few games.Evan had been in the same position, so he understood why people went so hard.
That didn’t mean he was going to let anyone show him up, though.He might have nothing on the line, but this was his chance to focus on his play and developing chemistry with his linemates.After only a handful of years in the league and just off his entry-level contract, he wasn’t established enough to slack off.
“Abs!”
Evan detoured from the gym to the locker room.He was here to run and sweat, and was already in his workout clothes with a playlist ready to go, but he was curious who else had decided to do some optional training.He followed the voices to the locker room, and almost instantly regretted it.
“Abs!”Kates cheered when he saw Evan.“Thought I saw you sneaking in.Working out today?”
Kates was sitting on the benches with Woodward and Barczyk.No skates or gear in sight, so they must be here for the gym like Evan.He nodded to each of them and tried not to tense up when he noticed Barczyk’s stall was only two down from his.Even the locker room wouldn’t be safe.
“Yeah, just going for a run.”Evan hated how awkward he felt.This washisspace!Kates and Woodward werehisteammates!His!Long before Barczyk had shown up in town.Ugh.Why couldn’t he pretend he didn’t care about him?
“Boring!”Kates said at the same time Woodward said, “Ew.”
Barczyk said nothing, instead cocking his head to the side as he appraised Evan.Because that would totally help Evan feel less self-conscious.
“Well, I should…” Evan started to back out of the room and wished he hadn’t come in here at all.
“Want some company?”Barczyk offered, earning him betrayed looks from Kates and Woodward.
“I’m good!”Evan said a little too quickly, his voice much higher than he’d have liked.He held up his earbuds in a belated attempt to not seem rude.“Got my tunes ready to go.”
Tunes!?Oh my fucking God.
Barczyk’s eyes lit up, as if he could hear Evan’s thoughts.More likely, he had pest powers that sniffed out embarrassment and preyed upon weakness.“Whatcha listening to?”he asked, sounding far too amused for Evan’s liking.
His cheeks flushed.He suddenly couldn’t remember a single band he liked or even the name of a song.Was music even real?“I?—”
“Why are my players dicking around in the locker room?Go chat in the parking lot.You’re here, you’re working.Capisce?”Coach Jack strode past Evan into the locker room and right out the far side that led to the coaches’ offices.He barely glanced at them as he went through, his eyes glued to the clipboard in his hands.From his vantage point, Evan couldn’t read much of it, but it looked like player stats and drills.He recognized one from last year’s training camp and suspected it was prep for this year’s camp.It was Evan’s first yearnotattending, and he was relieved to be past that part of his career.
As soon as the office door closed behind him, Barczyk arched an eyebrow.“Coach Brooks always got a stick up his ass?”
“Jack,” all three of them corrected in unison, before Kates offered, “And yes.”
“Coach Jack?”Barczyk repeated cautiously, like he thought maybe they were pulling his leg.
“There was this, like, whole thing,” Woodward explained.“When Coach Mel joined the team.Some of the older guys refused to call her Coach Gamble, so she owned being Coach Mel.Then Coach Jack showed solidarity and made us all call him by his first name too.Better get used to it, because every time you fuck it up, we’re gonna have to do laps.And I amnotdoing laps.I will tape your fucking mouth shut if I have to.”
“Aww,” Barczyk said with a pout.“But my mouth is my most charming feature.”
Evan took advantage of their laughter to disappear to the gym.Maybe if he ran hard enough, he could outrun Barczyk’s knowing smile.
* * *
Riley Barczyk was drafted in 2016 by the New Jersey Kings.He played two seasons for them, putting up records in PIMs (Penalty Infraction Minutes) and hits.He was then traded to Vermont, where he played another two seasons before moving to the New York Rough Riders.Most recently, he played for the Philadelphia Gliders before being picked up by the Pittsburgh Riveters when his three-year contract ended.He currently has a two-year, $9 million contract with the Riveters.
Evan could understand why the team had acquired Barczyk.It was a good move on paper: he put up points and could act in a semi-enforcer/instigator role.The team needed that kind of grit, especially after getting manhandled so much last season in the playoffs.They’d lost to the Blue Crabs in the second round because players like Nilsson and Vlasic could knock them off the puck.It made sense from a management point of view, and it had been praised all over social media by sports journalists and fans.
It didn’t mean Evan had to like it.
