CHAPTER 2: THE CAPTAIN
1609 Words
The puck slammed against the goalpost with a loud clang.
“Again!”
Coach Carter's voice echoed across Hawkeye Arena.
Liam Ashford barely had time to catch his breath before another puck came flying toward him.
He swung his stick, Smack.
The puck shot across the ice and disappeared into the net.
“Better,” Coach Carter called. Liam didn't answer, Instead he simply turned around and skated back into position.
The Hawkeyes had been practicing for almost two hours, but Coach Carter showed no sign of letting them rest.
Not that Liam minded. He preferred being on the ice. It was easier to think when his body was exhausted.
Easier than thinking about everything waiting for him once he stepped off it.
“Captain!” Blake Bennett skated toward him with a grin.
“You planning on letting the rest of us score today or what?”
Liam glanced at him. “No.”
Blake's grin widened. “Thought so.”
He skated past him before Liam could respond.
“Come on, boys!” Coach Carter shouted. “Again!”
The players groaned. Liam almost smiled, almost.
He tightened his grip on his stick. “Let's go.”
The team moved again. The Hawkeyes were one of the most respected teams in the league.
At least, they used to be. Now every game came with more pressure than the last and every mistake became a headline.
Every bad performance became another reason for sponsors to question whether the Hawkeyes were worth investing in. And lately, there had been plenty of mistakes.
Liam knew exactly why, the scandal. He had tried not to think about it, But apparently, the entire world had decided to think about it for him.
Everywhere he went, someone had something to say. Some called him arrogant, Others would say reckless.
A few had even called for him to be removed as captain. However Liam didn't care what they called him, what he cared about was the team.
He looked across the ice. Blake was arguing with Louis Green about something while Louis tried not to laugh.
The younger players were watching them closely, probably wondering how two assistant captains could spend half their practice annoying each other.
Liam shook his head. Idiots, his idiots.
And he wasn't about to let them lose everything.
“Liam!” He looked up.
A puck was heading straight for him, he managed to block it at the last second. But the impact rattled his arm.
“Focus!” Coach Carter shouted.
“I am.” he replied.
“Then prove it.” Coach barked.
Liam clenched his jaw, he pushed harder and another drill coupled with some sprinting, bang
another shot.
By the time Coach Carter finally blew his whistle, Liam's jersey was soaked with sweat.
“That's enough for today.”
The players immediately started skating toward the benches.
Blake threw his gloves down.
“I swear Coach is secretly trying to kill us.”
Louis laughed and replied
“You've been saying that for three years.”
“And I'm still alive.” Blake groaned
“Barely.” Louis muttered
Liam shook his head as he removed his helmet.
“You two done?”
Blake looked at him. “Nope.”
Liam raised an eyebrow, then Blake grinned.
“Actually, yes.”
Liam rolled his eyes and headed toward the locker room.
“Captain!”
He stopped. Coach Carter stood near the rink entrance.
“Tim wants to see you.”
Liam's expression changed slightly. “Now?”
“Now.” Coach replied.
That was never a good sign. Liam grabbed his towel and walked toward the offices.
The moment he entered, he noticed Tim Sullivan sitting behind his desk.
Jackson Paul was there too. Neither man looked particularly happy.
Liam closed the door behind him.
“What happened?”
Tim leaned back in his chair. “Sit down.”
“I'd rather stand.” Liam replied promptly.
Jackson sighed. “Of course you would.”
Liam looked between them. “What happened?”
Tim exchanged a glance with Jackson before finally speaking.
“NorthStar pulled out.”
Liam's expression hardened. “NorthStar?”
Tim nodded. “They terminated their sponsorship this morning.”
Liam stared at him.
“They were one of our biggest sponsors.” Tim continued.
“I know.” Liam paused and continued. “How much?”
Tim hesitated. “Enough.”
Liam's jaw tightened. “How much, Tim?”
“Thirty percent of our sponsorship revenue.”
Silence. Liam slowly looked away.
Thirty percent. That wasn't just a small loss, that was a problem and a very big one at that.
“Is this because of the scandal?” Liam turned back and stared at him again.
Jackson nodded.
“They're calling it a brand-protection decision.”
Liam scoffed. “Of course they are.”
Jackson crossed his arms.“They aren't the first.”
Liam looked at him.“Who else?”
“Three smaller sponsors last week.”
Tim rubbed his forehead and continued
“And we're expecting at least two more to reconsider their contracts.”
Liam stared at the floor. The Hawkeyes were already struggling.
The arena was expensive, player salaries were expensive and travel was also expensive.
Keeping a professional hockey team running wasn't something you could do with good intentions and a few lucky wins.
They needed money, a lot of it and they were running out of it.
“What about ticket sales?” Liam asked.
“Down.” Tim replied
“Merchandise?” Liam continued.
“Down.” Tim replied again.
Liam paused slightly and probed “The Investors?”
Tim didn't answer.
Liam looked at him. “Tim?”
“Some are getting nervous.” Tim Sighed.
Liam slowly exhaled. For a few seconds, nobody spoke.Then Liam walked toward the window.
From there, he could see part of Hawkeye Arena.
The place was more than just an arena to him, It was where he had spent most of his life and funnily enough every important memory he had seemed to involve ice.
Every victory, every loss, every injury, every time he'd put on the Hawkeyes jersey.
He wasn't going to watch it disappear, not because of a scandal. Not because sponsors got scared and definitely not because someone decided the Hawkeyes were no longer profitable.
“We'll fix it.” Liam said.
Tim looked at him. “Liam…”
“We'll fix it.” His voice was firmer this time.
Tim sighed.“I hope you're right.”
Liam turned away from the window. “I am.”
He didn't know how yet, but he would figure it out, he always did.
Jackson watched him for a moment before clearing his throat.
“There is one problem.”
Liam frowned. “Another one?”
Jackson gave him a look.“Unfortunately.”
“What?”
“The media isn't letting the scandal die.”
Liam's expression darkened.
“They won't, they've found new footage.”
Liam's eyes narrowed. “What footage?”
“Old interviews, party photos. Statements from people who knew you.”
“And?”
“They're building a narrative.” Jackson stated.
“What narrative?”
Jackson hesitated. “That you're unstable.”
Liam laughed once. There was no humor in it.
“Of course.”
Jackson continued.
“They're saying you're damaging the Hawkeyes' reputation.”
Liam stared at him.
“And what exactly do you want me to do about that?”
Jackson leaned back.
“That's what we're trying to figure out.”
Liam looked at Tim. “I'm not stepping down.”
Tim's eyebrows lifted. “I didn't ask you to.”
“Good.”
“Liam…” Jackson dragged.
“I said good.”
He grabbed his jacket. “If the team is in trouble, then I'll deal with it.”
Tim watched him carefully. “You don't have to carry everything yourself.”
Liam gave him a faint smile. “Well, someone has to.” He walked toward the door.
“Liam.”
He stopped.
Tim's voice softened.
“Don't destroy yourself trying to save the team.”
Liam didn't turn around. “I'm not planning to.”
He opened the door. “I'm planning to save it.”
Then he walked out.
---
Later that night, Liam stood alone in the parking lot outside Hawkeye Arena. The building was almost completely empty.
He looked up at the massive Hawkeyes logo above the entrance. He remembered the first time he'd seen it as a kid.
Back then, he'd thought playing professional hockey was the hardest thing he'd ever have to do.
He'd been wrong. Being responsible for an entire team was a lot harder.
His phone vibrated and he looked down.
Another news notification.
HAWKEYES SPONSORSHIP CRISIS DEEPENS
Liam locked the screen, he didn't need to read it and he already knew.
The Hawkeyes were bleeding money. And everyone was waiting to see how long they could survive.
Liam slipped his phone into his pocket.
“I won't let them take this from us.”
He wasn't sure whether he was talking to himself or to the empty arena. But he meant every word.
His phone vibrated again. This time, it was Jackson.
Come back inside. We need to talk.
Liam frowned. He turned around and walked back into the arena.
When he entered the office, Tim was still there.
Jackson was standing beside the desk.
Liam looked at both men. “What now?”
Jackson took a slow breath. Then he looked directly at Liam.
“I have one solution left.”
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