Page 17 of A Match Made In Fall

Dane hands him the kids’ shirt. “Can you make this one out to my son, Jude? Future hockey legend.”

Austin chuckles. “That’s a lot of pressure. Make sure he wants to play hockey.”

My brother nods. “Oh I will. I played baseball, and I’m kind of hoping he loves it as much as I did.”

“I get it,” Austin says. “When you love a sport as much as we do, it’s a huge part of our lives.”

“Aww…it’s nice watching you boys bond,” I tease.

“Well, you feel that way about dance, right?” Dane suggests.

I smile. “I do. This injury has really taken its toll on me. I miss it a lot.”

“Of course,” Austin says. “You’ve dedicated so much of your life to it.”

“My sister has worked very hard to get where she is,” Dane says.

“That’s what I’ve heard, and I’m embarrassed to admit I don’t know anything about ballroom dance other than there’s one called the Cha- Cha.”

“Very good,” I say.

“That’s all I know,” he admits.

I laugh. “That’s okay.”

“Here you go,” Austin says handing the shirts to my brother. “And take a mini puck for your son.”

“Thanks.”

A few more stragglers are chatting with the players. And my foot is really starting with the ache.

I cringe as I take a step. “I think it’s time to get off this foot.”

“Take care of yourself,” Austin says.

“I appreciate it. Good luck on the road trip.”

Austin grins while my brother and I make our return to our family.

“I think one of the Bears likes you a lot,” my brother says, elbowing me in the side.

“Hmm…maybe.”

“I think you should go for it,” he says.

Well for once my brother might have a good idea. I just won’t tell him this.

CHAPTER SIX

AUSTIN

There’s always something exhilarating about going on the road and stepping into a different city for a few nights. Of course every arena has its own energy and it’s always a mystery what kind of reaction we’re going to receive. Some crowds are loud and relentless, some are quiet until their team scores, and some crowds are just plain mean to the visitors. Admittedly, I kind of enjoy it. Away games always feel like a test of our ability to work together under pressure. There’s something about being in a hostile arena, surrounded by opposing fans, that forces us to rely on each other even more. The challenges of travel and the energy of the crowd can either pull a team apart or bring it closer together. I like seeing how we respond when things get difficult, because those moments often reveal what kind of team we really are. When we’re on the road we don’t have our home crowd supporting us, we’re living out of a suitcase and trying to stay locked in while thousands of people want to see you fail. I’ve never backed away from a challenge, so road trips have always brought out the best in me.

Thankfully this trip isn’t a long one. Three away games are easy compared to some of the longer stretches we have. Starting things off with a win helps the overall energy of our team. Of course everything is easier after a win. The guys are joking around, and everyone is happier. Losing on the road can make a trip drag on forever, but winning the first game gives us momentum for the rest of the time away from home. Hopefully we can keep it rolling and head back to our arena in a few days with all three victories added to our stats.

Of course, this career never really lets you relax for too long and every single game matters.

On another note, the trade rumors have already started circulating again, and once those stories hit social media, they spread through the league like wildfire. Every season it’s the same thing—teams are ready to shuffle to fit their needs, and many of us are on high alert wondering if we’ll be moved to another city. This always seems to create a weird tension in the air because everything can change overnight. One phone call and suddenly you’re starting over somewhere else. Our goalie Nick just went through this last season, and he was not prepared for it.