The rink buzzed with unusual energy that afternoon. The air was sharper, cleaner, as though everyone sensed something was about to change.
Ethan skated harder than usual, his blades slicing across the ice in perfect rhythm. Every pass, every shot, every check felt heightened.
From the sidelines, two men in tailored coats watched with careful eyes, their clipboards tucked beneath their arms.
The rest of the team noticed them instantly, whispers rippling through the locker room before practice had even started. Scouts.
When the whistle blew, Coach Harding gathered the players at the bench, his voice firm but unusually charged. “Alright, listen up.
We’ve got eyes on us today. Play sharp, play smart, and for the love of the game, don’t embarrass me.
Sam leaned toward Ethan, muttering w
