Page 2 of Home of the Brave

Like the fact of how many so-called penalties were actually just tantrums thrown by grown men.

Or the fact that not a single player would last thirty seconds on the ice, for even a hockey practice, let alone a game.

Nope. I could keep all that out of my interviews.

Finally, I turned off my digital recorder and dropped it in my bag as I stood to leave with the rest of the journalists squished into the media room.

As soon as I got back to my hotel, I plopped onto the bed with my laptop and typed out the driest, but factual, overview of the games of the day and sent it to Chris.

With my work out of the way, I turned on the TV and scrolled through the channels until I found a hockey game to watch. I wasn’t a fan of either team, but the familiar sounds soothed my nerves from the day, and I picked up my phone to find something for dinner to be delivered.

It wasn’t until I was midway through my ramen when my phone lit up with a call from Darcy, a fellow journalist I’d become friends with over the years working in the industry.

“Hey girl,” I held my phone to my cheek with my shoulder and took another bite of noodles.

“Are you coming?” Her excitement had me putting my food on the nightstand.

“What are you talking about?”

There was a pause. “Did you not get it?”

I rubbed my hand over my eyes. “Get what?”

“The summer tournament.”

I ran through every possibility of what she was talking about, but had no clue.

“You didn’t hear?” She must have taken my silence as my answer.

“No, I’ve been watching basketball all day and haven’t––”

“The NHL and PWHL have joined together and are putting on a summer tournament this year.”

I made a sound between a scoff and a laugh, too confused to speak.

“Two teams for each, representing the West and East. They haven’t released the roster yet, but I’m betting most of the Olympians will be playing in it.”

I was still too stunned.

A special summer tournament? Right after the Winter Olympics, where both of the USA teams brought home gold? It was too much. Hockey fans were never this blessed. We were generally overlooked and left begging for more.

“Men and women?" I finally got out. “Seriously?”

The women were all too often forgotten, but taking home gold at the Olympics had pushed them into stardom, and I was so happy focus would continue to be put on them.

“Yes! I don’t have any more information yet, but you have to cover it!”

“I’m assuming that means you are, too.”

“I asked, well more like begged, and I pointed out my existing relationships with the players, especially after the Olympics, and they said they would take that into consideration.”

“I need to call my boss.” I refused to let anyone else get this event.

“Get on it! From what I’ve heard, it starts as soon as finals are over.”

“Thanks, Darcy.”

We hung up, and I immediately called my boss.