Chapter 0488

Enzo

The clatter of hockey sticks and the distinct screech of skates cutting into the ice enveloped me as Tim and I entered the arena. It was a different vibe than what I was used to back in Mountainview-less polished, maybe a little rougher around the edges-but it was hockey, and that was home enough for me.

"As you can see, we're already underway," Tim said, gesturing toward the scrimmage taking place below us. "But I'd like to hear your first impressions. And don't hold back."

We found a decent spot to watch from and settled in. For several minutes, I just observed. The team had heart; that much was evident to me. But they also displayed glaring inadequacies.

Their passes were always just a little too long or a little too short, shots were mistimed, and their defensive formation looked more like a scattering of bodies rather than a cohesive unit. It was immediately clear that they had little chemistry on the ice, unlike my team. But it was fixable.

Tim leaned toward me, his eyes fixed on the game but clearly attuned to my reaction. "So, what do you think? Any initial thoughts?"

"They've got potential but they need a lot of work. The passing is inconsistent, they're either overshooting or hesitating. That's something we'd need to drill in practice. Also, defensively, they're reacting rather than anticipating the play. It's costing them valuable seconds, and in hockey, that's

no trace of defensiveness, only an open

once more. "Equipment," I said. "I noticed some of them are skating on worn-out blades, and a couple

sighed, taking off his glasses and pinching the bridge of his nose. "I hear you, Enzo. But unfortunately, equipment is a difficult issue. Funding's always

hit the ground running. Teams

"You're already

is automatically better off than one that isn't." I paused then, casting another look at the players who still seemed like strangers sharing the ice rather than a unified squad. "And besides, I can tell that their

broke into a genuine smile, one that crinkled the comers

to be a fantastic addition to the team, Enzo.

respond, Tim's phone buzzed insistently in his pocket. "Sorry," he said with a sigh as he stood, "I've got to take this. Why

a few moments before returning my attention to the scrimmage. Already, the gears were turning in my head as to how this team could

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