Shooting to score

trials

Waking up at five before the sun has fully raised I throw a pair of running shorts on and a jumper, heading for a morning jog to relax my body before coach pushes us to our limits. I look forward to running in the morning as I know no one is awake yet for another hour and it's the peace an quiet that I love when I'm jogging but also it's relaxing I don't think about anything, I just let the cold air hit my bare legs and face making me regret not putting warmer clothes on. I regret it every time as i don't think about the weather, it can be raining and i'll still in running in shorts, a part of me doesn't want to change, too lazy I guess. Once I finish my jog i head for a shower before making my way down to a nearby cafe next to the arena that I always come to and come to love. The owner lets me come and do my coursework before I head to hockey training most morning and when it's busy she makes sure I have a spot, she treats me like a granddaughter which I love. I have come for the pass three years studying before and after practice, i don't know why I chosen to come here but its been my favourite place now since I notice it on my first day off training. The team comes here a couple of times and we have an after game milkshake or cob or sometimes just chill and talk which has been fun over the years. if anyone sees me at the cafe with my laptop they know i'm off limits unless its an emergency which never is. 

Throwing on a pair of jeans and a jumper finishing it off with a backwards cap I grab my oversized bag and head to my car. I don't really care how I look right now as I won't see anyone after I leave but not like they see me with a cap on anyway. Heading to the cafe I park at the arena and walk around hoping I can get a quick snack and drink before they rest of the girls start turning up.

"Morning Liv" I hear the owner shout, my name is Olivia but everyone who knows me calls me Liv but my parents call me Livy. Everyone else just calls me anything and at times ill answer if i know who's calling me it but times i ignore people as the nicknames are ridiculous. I hate being called 'cap' short for captain as it just isn't me, yes I'm the captain but I'm more the laid back type, shaking my head I shake my thoughts out needing the time to relax for a second

"Morning, I definitely missed your hot chocolates while I was away" I admit as no one makes them like Betty the owner, looking at the place I only spot a couple of people sitting around the cafe, i know nearly everyone in the cafe as there all regulars like i am, once you had Betty hot chocolate or food, you don't go anywhere else but betty's cafe 

"Here you are love. Good luck today" grabbing my drink I give Betty a smile before heading back over to get changed for trials, I have definitely missed skating with others. It's not the same when I'm skating with my brothers as they don't play fair, never have when there three of them and one of me. I'm fighting a losing battle with them. 

Changing into my uniform I head onto the ice needing to feel the ice under my skates, skating around with my personal stick in my hands feels like old time like I haven't left it feels good to be back really, my dad got it me my own personal stick for my sixteen birthday and I have used it ever since, its something I have done like a good luck charm. Grabbing a puck I start skating keeping the puck in front of me, I can handle a puck with both hands now as I was only a righty but over the season I learnt to use my left which comes handy at times and makes it easy that I can play both on left and right side, which ever coach needs me. As I'm skating around the girls slowly start coming onto the ice in full kit ready for trials. One by one i see the coach and his coaching team come on the ice skating over towards us with a straight face like always

"Morning, I'll keep this quick. At the end of today I'll post the names on the board if you don't make it, good luck next year but those who make it, I don't expect it to get to your head. Good luck everyone" I hear the coach shout as he skates off the ice. Lining up next to each other we start by doing follow the leader to warm up a little before we go full out. As the session goes on I can't help but think about the ones who can't keep up, it's not as easy as it looks but it doesn't help us who was here last year know what he's looking for. As we head onto shooting practice I hang back a little watching the freshmen shot and what they need to work on, I know not everyone will be shooters but it's good for them to learn a couple of things incase they find themselves in front of the goal. As I get the puck for my turn I swing my arm hitting it with focus sending it straight into the top corner, that one definitely had some speed it to that it nearly ripped the net, I can see mouths open even coaches. My shot wasn't as good as it now and I can say I definitely improved, I had my brothers help me with my shot

"Don't rip my net Olivia, use your weak hand" coach laughs as he knows I'm capable of doing it with a little more time. Using my weak hand next time I get the same response from everyone, it wasn't good as my right hand but I have to admit it's better then most freshmen here. Laughing it off I head in between the shooters and goal passing it off to them hoping they at least hit a couple of goals. I have a powerful slab shot which I don't really use that much but when i do the goalie definitely feels it if they can catch it. 

Coming to the end of trials I have a rough idea who's making it and who's not, we may be only a college hockey squad but we only have a limited of spaces to fill, and apparently the college wants the best as they want another championship this year. Skating round the ice with everyone behind me I start speeding wondering if they can keep up as I slowly increase my speed by lap i pull away and head to the back, Demi can lead the group as i help the back of the group, sometimes it isn't about speed it the girls posture thats holding them back. Throughout the session coaching comes natural to me as ill stop and help a couple of players as we are a team at the end of the day 

"Lower, come on" I say making sure they get in the right position as they aren't getting any faster with the way they skate, as the back of the group catch up with the rest i head back to the front slowing increasing the speed. Waiting for the whistle I slow down coming to a control stop in front of the coach with everyone else. I'm don't think I worked this hard in a while but i know it be worth it when we all see another championship flag hanging up with the rest from the previous years 

"List will be posted in a hour, now get off my ice" coach shouts and I let out a little laugh coach has always been hot and cold with the squad but we all have a laugh together. Skating off the ice I head to the shower waiting to clean up before heading home. 

Rooster 

Olivia Dennis (c) 

Lucy hemming 

Demi cook

Josie Webb 

Alicia black 

Bethany hammock 

Shelly Connor

Reading the first seven from the list I head to my car I don't need to know the last thirteen yet as I'll see them at training, I know there's going to be a couple of unhappy players but not everyone can play. Reaching my car I throw my bag in the boot before heading home to soak my feet, I forgotten how much energy it takes out of me. While I'm driving I can hear my phone vibrating and I know it's one of the girls setting up a group message with everyone in it, Now I have a phone none stop going off, fun. 

Demi: skulls game tonight you in? 

Me: sure, pick me up at 5pm 

Pulling over to respond to a text I look back at the road noticing I'm quite close to home, replying to the text I'm happy hockey is back on as I have missed shouting at the ref from the stands, there's only a couple of teams who play at the arena and when they do we all go but a laugh. I always leave before the players come out though as I don't fancy their fan base pushing past me. Thought out the years of going to the games I have enjoyed myself but as long as I been to the games theres always a couple of puck bunnies trying to push past everyone to get there attention ands thats why I have always left early.