Baker's Dozen

1. The Beginning!-3

His parents, sponsored the Team, The Bakers Dozen, but Robby was pretty sure that Chief of Police was also behind that it in some way, as well. He knew his parents could not afford to buy the boxes of new baseball gear and uniforms that were dropped off at their door on occasion. He knew, that they couldn’t afford a lot of the other expenses that were paid either. He also knew that the old Chief was happy to see a bunch of kids, who would not have otherwise, be able to participate and have fun, and doing just that! Robby recognised early, when you have a true friend, you just have to treasure that friendship and that friend for what, and who they were, and that there are people who just try to do what is right, just because of the way their heart feels! He could see that look, in whatever you wanted to call him; Chief Marshall, Coach Marshall, or just plain Friend, Marshall’s, eyes, when he came out to the games or practices. Chief Marshall was the first and only Cop that he trusted, respected, admired and truly loved for many years to come. The Chief, to him, was a man and a humanitarian first, the Cop thing was how he made a living!

Robby loved playing hockey, and his natural athleticism and ability to read situations and plays, suited him for the game and his position at centre. And his leadership abilities, made him the obvious choice as team Captain. He could make some brilliant plays all on his own, as he could stick handle, and skate circles around most of the other players, but he was always willing to set up a goal and make a pass rather than try to showboat.

He was happy when the teams were put together that he wasn’t on a team with Danny O’Reilly as he was a Showboat and they were constantly fighting. It wouldn’t have been much fun. It was hard enough when the two teams played against each other, because he would know for certain, that they would clash and they would spend more time in the penalty boxes than on the ice, and the fun was playing, not sitting in the penalty box! He wasn’t sure what Danny’s problem was, but he would come after him whenever they were on the ice together. He wasn’t afraid of him and had nothing really against Danny, but he wasn’t about to take any crap from him. He wished he would just go away and leave him alone!

The first year Robby and Danny both made the All-Star team. Robby found out that he would have to not only be on the same team, but Coach Marshall had put them both on the same line together. He was at centre and Danny on Right Wing, he went to the Coach to tell him that he wanted to drop off the team.

Danny was equally upset, not because he was on the same team and line, but because he felt he should be at Centre, because that was his normal position, and that is where he shined, and could best outshine Robby Baker.

The coach, took them both aside, separately and talked both into just giving it a try and promised, that, if it didn’t work he would change it up! But he told them, that they had to give it an honest effort. He told them not to think about who they were playing with, but who they were playing against, and just play hockey, the way they both knew it should be played. He told them not to plan plays, that the plays would just happen naturally.

Both, Dan and Robby, as well as all of their teammates, most parents and other coaches, thought the old Coach was nuts! The other teams, were in Heaven, because they figured that those two, who were considered to be two of the best players in the league, would spend more time fighting and trying to out-shine each other, to actually play the game, and that they would just have a cake-walk to the Championship.

It was awkward at first, as there was still a real tension between them, but, after the first couple of scrimmages, the natural chemistry started to manifest itself, and the magic started to happen, and they weren’t even aware that it was happening, it all just started to flow. Natural instincts were now at play and it was a sight to behold! The two were working together as if they had played together all their lives.

They were making plays that looked as if they had been carefully and meticulously choreographed without any forethought, simply because that was the way to do it, that is what their natural instincts told them to do. The two just seemed to sense that they were in sync, and playing alongside a player of equal calibre and ability and took full advantage of it. The others on the line, and the rest of the team, also picked up on the vibe and they too, played in unison, with heart and conviction, in a way that they never had before. Danny and Bobby could even be seen smiling at each other once in a while, and caught themselves doing “High Fives” even an occasion impromptu hug was exchanged.

The opposing team, could not believe what was happening. The game was a complete blow out! As was, the rest of the series and The Swanton Harbour, All-Stars, went on to win the Championship in glorious fashion! When the MVP award was to be decided, they couldn’t pick only one and for the first time, two MVP awards were presented to both Dan and Robby!

You might think, that, that experience, would have marked the end to the rivalry between the two. It did not! The next two years All Star Games were a repeat of that first year’s victory. The two could play in complete symmetry on the same line as if they were meant to be, but when the series was over, they went right back to the status quo.