He was the team’s lead scorer, and the Huskies had just won the league championship. He’d thought he was a lock to make the team. Rocket still remembered sitting in the dressing room after the tryout, laughing and joking with Ty and Ad-man. Rocket had played for the AAA Oakmont Huskies for three years, but in his bantam year, Cole had brought in Barker as a paid coach. We need some big bodies to cycle in the corners, and I want my defencemen to punish guys who try to get to the net,” Barker said. “Well, we got to take care of that power play, and your team is way too small. You’ll come on as an assistant coach this year.” “I’m good at working trades and stuff like that.” “I should be down on that floor,” Barker said. Rocket didn’t have fond memories of either of them. Barker had cut Rocket from the Oakmont Huskies years ago. Rocket quickly turned away so they wouldn’t see his face. The second man was younger, thickset, wearing track pants, a hoodie and running shoes. A large gold watch caught the light every so often as the man gestured with his hands. The man closest to him wore a suit and sunglasses with thick black rims. Two men had taken a seat across the aisle. Rocket looked up at hearing his friends mentioned. Each time a general manager went up to the mic, Rocket’s heart started to beat a little faster. In the past he would have just checked online, but the OHL had decided to do it live in an arena, like they had years ago. Stay home and wait to hear from the team that picks you.” “You might sit in the stands for two days and not get drafted. Still, she had warned Rocket not to go to the draft. A few scouts had called Coach Sonia to ask about him. He’d scored thirty-nine goals in midget last season, fourth highest in the league. The three of them had been obsessed with the Ontario Hockey League draft for weeks, though Rocket pretended to be low-key. Rocket had known he wouldn’t go in the first three rounds. The Oshawa Generals grabbed Adam early in round two, with the third pick. Ty went fifth in round one to the London Knights. Yesterday he’d come for his friends, Tyler and Adam, and he’d been stoked when they were drafted. Six hours slouched in this spot, waiting for his name to be called, had numbed his body and his nerves. The people in front of him nearly jumped out of their seats.

To the kids who play the game for all the right reasons.įeedback crackled like thunder over the arena’s loudspeaker.

Undergrounders by David Skuy