Defenseman by Michael Maloni

Author:Michael Maloni
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Publish on Demand Global LLC

Chapter 33

“Are you guys ready?” Laurie asked him the night before the Hockey East Playoffs.

“Yes, without a doubt we'll win “

“Good!”

“Yeah it is. We'll be celebrating. I anticipate.”

“I have to learn how to cook.”

“Any other pressing needs?”

“Well, it's just something that I thought of.”

“Take out sweetheart.”

“I love you.”

“I still have to cook for Christmas and Thanksgiving at least.”

“Don't worry. We'll figure it out.”

“Do you know how to cook a turkey?”

“Baste it and wait until the little white thing pops up.”

“Well, that's one up on me.”

“You make your own luck.”

“Can you imagine our first Christmas?”

“It'll be great.”

He scrunched his nose.

“Excuse me?”

“Well, I'm going to be expected to do interviews and that really is weird for me because I'm not used to talking about myself. You just want to go through life trying to build instead of tear down and there are a lot of people who think you don't have the guts if you don't stick a guy. I want to build a reputation as a hard hitter but fair guy. I don't want to goon it up. That's not what I'd teach the kids at the hockey school. I don't want my contribution to the sport to be one that's not detrimental to the values of the game.”

“Do you really think about this stuff?”

“It'll be my profession.”

“You're an idealist.”

“I just don't want my kids to read in the paper a headline that reads Thompson Most Hated Player in NHL. There's hockey and there's hockey.”

“Do you think they'll be a big adjustment?”

“Yeah, I'll have to learn the ins and outs of the big leagues. I'm hoping to find a guy that will take me under his wing and teach me about the pro game.”

“You have to find an agent.”

“Got that one covered. They contacted me before I signed my letter of intent.”

“Are you ready for tomorrow night?”

“We'll win.”

“Confident.”

“Our team is playing desperate like they haven't won all season. They're hungry.”

“What if you don't win?”

“Look! Let me tell you, you always think you're going to win and if you have the talent, which we do, it usually turns out that way. It means we'll win.”

“What drives you?”

“Nothing really! It's more the Curious George affect. I wonder if I can do it, and then if I can inspire other people to get into the same dream. It's the challenge of getting really talented people to work as a team. I do it for the enjoyment. It is the teaching and the ability to learn.”

The first round game was between UMASS and BU. BU went out guns a blazing in the first period and scored three times. Steve picked up three assists. UMASS got two back in the beginning of the second but Nate scored once an assisted on Jeff Philips goal to bring the score up to 5-2. The third period saw the teams trade goals with Steve picking up another assist. BU had gotten beyond the first round.

Afterwards Steve was deluged by the press corps.

“How many assists were you going to rack up?” One scribe asked.

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