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“It’s just snips and snatches,” Kole said. “How does that help?”
Ilya grinned. “Instead of inanimate objects, now you’re all defenders. Listen and watch more than you defend, but provide a little pressure.”
While we took a basic defense formation, we listened as they used a shorthand way of talking to each other. Short grunts and barks, chin tips, and pointing with their sticks. So, even though there were more of us, they managed to get through our defenses.
“See?” Ilya said through short puffs of his exertion. “Keep your head up to check puck position, open ice, and watch for plays becoming available. Shout out if you’re open or where the puck is for those with their back to the play. Use your stick to tell someone you’re open or pointing to an open lane.”
Chris tipped his chin. “And if you’re going after an offensive player, use your head to show where you want to go with it and keep an eye on body language.”
Kole scoffed. “How many eyes you guys think we’ve got?”
Chris patted him on the bucket. “Just keep your head on a swivel. Don’t get stuck staring at one thing. You’ve got to keep looking around or you’ll miss something important.”
We practiced for a while until Molly arrived. Then, as the other guys filtered out onto the ice, we gathered around the coaches in front of the players’ box. Molly laced up her skates like always and stepped in front of us with her stick. We knelt to listen to her.
“Well, well, well,” Molly said, tapping her finger on her crossed arm. “Never expected anyone to take on the Finnish five without my insistence.”
Calder straightened. “It was my idea. I need the practice.”
Molly snorted. “Most of you do. Glad to see you guys taking the initiative. So, how’d it go?”
Ilya tipped his chin to her. “Making progress, Molls.”
She leaned on her stick. “You know, you guys have been given a gift so far this year. You’ve won more than you’ve lost, but there’s still a lot of work to do,” she warned. “Don’t get all cocky on me.”
Hank tipped his chin. “Not a chance, Molls.”
Molly zeroed in on Hank immediately, skating over in front of him. “You!” she said pointing at him. “What’re you still doing here?”
“Well, bless your heart,” Hank grinned. “You didn’t hear? I’m staying.”
Molly pushed off skating right up to Hank. Staring at him, she closed one eye and squinted. Something passed between them. “Good.”
She tossed him a smirk, tapped her stick once on his bucket, and skated backward staring at all of us until she reached the boards. She flicked her eyes over all of us, assessing and doing her Molly thing.
When she nodded to Coach, he rolled his eyes, then clapped to release us. “Five laps, men!”
I caught up with Hank as we went around the rink the third time. “What was all that?”
He turned to me. “Aw, she’s just making sure I’m paying attention.”
I shook my head a little. “Isn’t that what you’ve been doing?”
He shrugged. “Just ‘cause a chicken’s got wings don’t mean it can fly.”
I growled. “I’m about to give up on this conversation, Hank.”
He slowed a bit on our last turn. “Molly knows things. Sure, I’ve been doing drills and giving good effort, but she can sense I feel like a rooster in a hen house.”
I shoved my elbow between his ribs and stopped to watch him go flying.
Air whooshed from him as he hit the boards and came back with nothing but laughter. “Thought you woulda figured that one out.” He huffed and puffed as he stood there with his hands on his thighs, bent forward. “Just feeling like an imposter, ‘s’all. Like I’m here temporarily and eventually you’ll realize I don’t belong.”
I glared at him. “That’s bullshit.”
Hank pushed up off the boards. A few guys headed our way to break up what looked like an impending fight. Well, maybe it was. Adrenaline coursed through my body. My breath came out in pants. My fists were aching to hit someone.
Hank lowered his gaze and shook his head a little. “Ain’t never played with the big boys before, Pierce. I don’t stack up.”
