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***boom*** · 08-06-2024, 10:08 PM

[2601 words, ready for grading]

note: There's one short passage in this chapter that's kinda inspired by something that happened recently to a team in real life, and plays well into one of the Player's Tribune articles I did.

There were a lot of changes that had happened over the offseason for the Detroit Falcons. There had been a lot of graduations to the SHL, but the team was also welcoming seven rookies to the team. For Anastasia Söderström, the team's goalie, she was preparing to take more of a role as a team leader. She'd never been the most vocal in the team dressing room, but she knew how critical the goalie position was to a hockey team and she was hoping she could let her play do the talking. Ana was on a mission to prove that what had happened in the previous playoffs was just a fluke and not who she really was, and it would be a greater challenge to do so with less talent in front of her this season.

The Falcons got off to a decently strong start to the season despite the offseason exodus, the new rookies gelling well together and keeping the offense in strong shape. Ana was back between the pipes with Luke Fromm once again returning as the team's backup, and she was finding it more difficult to get back into a consistent groove than she expected. The successful run with Team ICE in the summer had given her some confidence, and when she was on form her technical skills were as strong as ever, but the young goalie was having trouble overthinking saves, sometimes overexerting to reach across her body with her glove when she could have blocked it away.

"Try and take these shots more by feel. You've got the athletic ability and technical skill to make these plays, but I'd say you're trying too hard on some of those shots," her goalie coach had pointed out.

"I just thought I was making the best plays to avoid rebounds" Ana replied, her mind always thinking of the highest-percentage plays.

The Falcons goalie coach nodded. "You're keeping the rebounds from going out, but the opposing forwards will be able to tell that you're awkward and off your position when you're using your glove too much and they'll shoot in those spots hoping you'll mess up and kick one out."

"So what should I do to fix it?" said Ana. "It sounds like a tough habit to break."

"Maybe, but not impossible," the coach answered. "Try and work on using your blocker and pads more. I know you know how to play those angles, send those pucks to the corners. Trust your defenders to dig it out and start the breakout, it'll mean fewer faceoffs down in our end as well if the breakout can execute."

The film session soon ended and Ana headed for the dressing room, ready to put the lesson into practice. The memories of last year still danced in her head, but with each passing day and each sound save they were growing fainter.

---

The lesson from the goalie coach seemed to be taken well, as Ana noticed she was far more comfortable in the net after she stopped trying to catch everything. Not only did this leave more pucks for the defense to break out, but it also meant on the occasion that a bad rebound did happen she wasn't overcommitted to one side and unable to get set. Unfortunately, an inexperienced defense meant there were more turnovers than last year, meaning Ana had to keep her mind sharp for the possibility of a fast break the other way.

Ana's school and home life also seemed to be going better as she got more used to living in North America. Her English was quickly improving from her high school classes and from spending time with her billet family and Falcons teammates, meaning she was more comfortable with talking to the press as well. Ana would explore the city on her days off, taking in the sights and sounds. It wasn't often that she had a day to just be the 16-year-old she was away from the ice, but she tried to treasure these moments as much as she could.

It was a cold February day when Ana got a surprising text. She was on a group thread with some of the other hockey players from the online school program, giving her a chance to make some friends and swap stories and advice, when a younger player who almost never spoke up sent a message to the chat.

Had a rotten day today at practice. Coach was on one today, the text read. Messages of sympathy soon appeared in reply, then a longer explanation by the player.

We were doing a zone attacking drill, I was on the defensive side, and I got caught out of position on a cycle play and the offensive side scored, she continued. It was a nothing play that could happen to everyone, but I guess the coach was in a bad mood today because she really lit into me. Called me out in front of the whole team and used a lot of words I won't repeat here, asking how could I miss that check, things like that. I'm really not looking forward to Thursday's practice after that, the player finished.

Ana was struck to her core. While it hadn't happened to her on the ice, memories of her childhood when similar things had happened in school bubbled to the surface. She sat up and typed out a quick message.

That's awful, it should never have happened to you and you shouldn't have been singled out like that, Ana typed. Is there anyone in your hockey program you can talk to about this, maybe your principal? Similar messages of empathy and advice soon followed from the other players in the conversation.

I could talk to them, but I'm worried that I'd get dropped from the team for it since I'm only a freshman and a third-liner. I'm not the best student and my family isn't exactly rich, so an athletic scholarship is my best shot to go to college and make something of my life. I can't cause trouble and risk that, the reply read.

The Falcons goalie thought for a minute about her own circumstances. She'd had to deal with a lot of glass ceilings over the years as a girl who'd always played on teams with boys, and the conflict of being an autistic and ADHD kid in school, but she'd always had the logistical and financial support of her family throughout her journey, not to mention the fortunate circumstances to be the award-winning starting goalie for a professional hockey team at 16.

At that moment, she knew what she needed to do. Maybe she couldn't directly make things better for this one girl, but she could talk about her experiences. She'd done a piece for the Player's Tribune writing to her parents thanking them for their support over the years, and this seemed like a good time to write another piece. Dear fans, Ana wrote, pulling out her laptop and opening a fresh document. She wrote frankly and honestly, telling of her experiences growing up knowing something was different with her compared to everyone else. The goalie put a flourish on the document and sent it off to her reporter contact that she'd used for the first letter, and tried her best to get to sleep.

---

The Falcons finished the season with just 29 wins, a drop from last year, but still very solid considering the departures before the season. Ana herself had had a bit of a middling season with a 3.56 GAA and a .894 save percentage, a blow for the incredibly competitive youngster, but she knew she was moving a lot more smoothly in the net over the second half of the season and her mechanics were better. The team might not have the depth to make a run this season, but she would be in good shape moving forward.

As was expected, this season was not to be as the team went out in a bit of a whimper to the Colorado Raptors in a four-game sweep. Ana was pulled again for the fourth game of the series to try to ignite a spark in the team, but she knew she'd played better this time around and the Falcons were just outmatched. In what was expected to be a rebuilding year for Detroit, the team had at least shown some progress with promising young players who would hopefully aid the Falcons in getting back to the top of the mountain.

---

Despite the loss, there wasn't much time to be disappointed, as international tournament season was now underway. Ana had somehow been named to the North America junior team as their starting goalie, but it was at least another chance to prove she still had what it took after the sophomore slump had hit her hard this season. The team struggled to a 2-9-1 finish and an elimination in the group stage of the tournament, but Ana had been stellar throughout most of the games she played, recording the team's only two wins of the tournament with a pair of shutouts. The advice from the goalie coaches of her various teams was really paying off now, as she felt like she was moving a lot more fluidly around the net, but the team's popgun offense just wasn't enough to get them to the medal round.

Back in Michigan, the team was undergoing some changes. Most notably for Ana, her old backup Luke Fromm was gone to be the new backup for the Ottawa Highlanders, replaced by a freshly drafted rookie in Mark Andrew Flower. Ana would still start the majority of the games, but she'd also be taking on the role of being somewhat of a teacher in addition to playing goalie, trying to show the newcomer the ropes of how to play goaltender in the SMJHL. As if no time had passed at all, she was back on a plane to Calgary for their prospects camp, this time alongside another newly drafted prospect goalie in Evil Kyle Murray. Ana was thrilled to be able to show off the improvement in her skills that she'd developed over the past year, and was happy to get more tips as she prepared for the day when she would eventually graduate to the SHL and play for the Calgary Dragons.

On the second-last day of the camp, Ana noticed someone sitting in the stands above the blueline closest to her net while she was taking a break from the action. She looked to be about sixteen or seventeen, and didn't look much like the scouts and staff members that were scattered around the lower bowl in this end of the rink. A Dragons baseball cap was jammed over her long dark hair, and she looked somewhat bored by the action. While fans could come and watch the traditional scrimmage on the last day of the prospect camp, the earlier parts of the camp were closed to fans. Ana shook her head and redirected her attention back to the ice, where she was called back into the goal. Probably just a new junior scout who looked younger than she was from that viewpoint, nothing to concern herself with.

The practice session soon came to an end and Ana headed for the dressing room. Because of how many players were in town for this camp, the Dragons didn't really have collective team meals until training camp in September came around, so she was somewhat free to do what she wanted after the practice let out as long as she was well-rested and energized for the next day's session. Ana headed for the exit of the arena and was surprised when she came face-to-face with the girl from the stands who had stuck out so much. "Hey, it's you!" Ana said in a more shocked tone than she was going for. Getting a closer look at the girl, she really was surprised at how similar they looked. The mystery girl's hair was a shade darker than hers, but they both had it down to around the same length and their Dragons caps even matched.

"Guilty as charged," Mystery Girl replied. "Söderström, right? You looked pretty good out there."

"You can just call me Ana," she said quickly.

"Wow, on a first name basis already? I'm Taylor," the other girl said.

"How'd you even get in here? I thought the camp was closed to fans until tomorrow."

"I have my ways." Ana tried not to fidget in front of the other girl. Quick with a quip, a hockey fan, and pretty as well? Be still, heart.

The goalie had an idea. "Hey, I'm going to go grab a bite to eat, need to keep my energy up for tomorrow's scrimmage. Want to come with me?" she offered tentatively.

"Sure!" Taylor answered. "And don't worry, we're the same age, so it shouldn't be weird or anything. I've just gotta send a text to my mom so she won't worry about me." How did she-, Ana wondered before remembering that if this girl knew who she was, it stands to reason she'd know her birthday as well.

The two found a local restaurant that Ana had eaten at a few times during this and previous camps, and talked mostly about the menu for the next few minutes. After a while, Ana finally got around to the topic that was most on her mind.

"So, Taylor, how were you at the rink anyway today? If we're the same age you wouldn't be working for the team, unless you're a student trainer somewhere?" she started.

Taylor laughed. "Definitely not that cool, the real story's actually pretty boring - one of my parents works for the team and I'm curious about maybe working in hockey when I get older, so I come along with them sometimes and observe. In the summer it's an extra bonus of being in a nice, cool arena rather than outside in the sun, so I don't mind it," she explained. "I know that sounds really weird that I get to go places someone in my position wouldn't be able to, but hockey's kind of a big thing in my family so I just roll with it."

"You play yourself?" Ana inquired.

"A little bit for a rec league, but not competitively. I'm more comfortable watching and learning the game anyway."

The two finished their meals and paid, Ana breaking off to go back to her hotel. "Nice getting to meet you tonight. I'm guessing if you're here for the closed practice you'll be at the scrimmage tomorrow?" she asked.

"Wouldn't miss it for the world."

"And one more thing, just out of curiosity," the goalie inquired. "What did you say the name of your parent was that worked for the team?" She mentally scanned through all the team employees she'd met in Calgary, trying to remember if any of them had teenage daughters they'd mentioned.

Taylor shrugged. "I never told you that information, but it's not a big deal. It's Sophie," she finished. "Sophie Bordeleau."

Ana barely managed to swallow her expression of shock.

---

Uh-oh. This marks what I would consider to be the start of the Queer Ana arc that I've hinted at in previous pieces, and I'm looking forward to seeing it through. Tell me what you thought of this chapter!

*NaomiMannequeen* · 08-07-2024, 12:16 AM

Gay Gay Homosexual Gay. I love it <3

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