Post Olympic

Dumbest Decision Yet

My mother would've killed me for this. Doing something so outlandish and so risky with someone I've never met before, but I guess I've done this quite a bit.

It's been a good long while since I've been on a plane, and I feel like an idiot, twiddling my thumbs and looking out the window. Yeah this was really stupid.

"How long have they been back in town?" I turn to Hadley.

"They're all arriving right about now, Von Albrecht is going to get there last, he arrives early tomorrow morning and then won't be useful for a day or so."

"Why?"

"He's from Germany, we tend to like our trans-atlantic players to be done visiting family with enough time to start practices without jet lag but something came up for him."

"So the majority of them are in?"

"Yes," He lets out a long sigh.

"What type of mentality should I have going into this?" I ask. "Like, how harsh or,"

"Go into it like your coaching horribly rowdy peewees." He chuckles. "God, they're awful, don't be afraid to offend them and put them through a lot. I know they're amazing players, they're just horrible teammates, and even worse at behaving."

"They're grown men..."
"They don't act like it."

"So, as hard as I can go?" I ask.

"Nothing else has worked and we're the worst team, I'd like to see that change this year." He lets out a sigh and I try to remember whatever I can about the Wolves.

"How old is your team?"

"Fifteen years." He says.

"Highest paid player?"

"VonAlbrecht and Osling are tied at the top."

"How old is this VonAlbrecht, I think I've heard of him."

"He's almost twenty-three."

"And he's your highest?" I ask. I'm just 21 as of a couple of weeks ago, and I'm a little worried that their highest paid player is so young.

"He's phenomenal."

"Hope so," I grumble. "How old is the arena?"

"The stadium was new five years ago, but the arena is, well, vintage, from when the Wolves played in the 60s." Right, the team was underfunded and didn't play for a while, a long while.

"And are your colors still navy, white and graveyard in the rain?" I ask. The old man lets out a small laugh.

"Yes."

"Von Albrecht, why haven't I heard of him?"

"He never made a scene as a kid, played for TU Munich and got on NHL radar from there." He pulls out a computer from his bag once the little bell goes off. "He was invited to the scouting combine and blew everyone out of the water, he was drafted second round to us, been here since."

"So he was good, and then was pushed down by being put on a bad team?" I ask.

"Yes." Hadley's voice is tinged with a bit of irritation. "His brother is expected to draft in the first round next spring."
"Oh, so there's two of them." I sigh. "What about the other one, tied with him for top paid."

"Osling is from the states, he played for Northeastern and was picked up from there, he's rounding twenty-six and his contract ends after next year."

"Mhmm, I see." I scratch the back of my head. "Anyone else that's good?"

"Pax, our starting goalie is a post-OHL kid, he's good." I see him click around on his computer, a word document, nothing on it. "They're all good, just none of them really act like it."

"Great," I grumble.