It Must Be Destiny (Jonathan Toews X OC)

The first game

it has been a week since you were drafted. In that week you have moved to Chicago. It is the first day of training. You and Corey Crawford are doing some warm-ups with the tennis ball. Corey throws it against one of the dressing room walls. You are barely able to catch it. You return the favour by flicking it low. Corey let's out a grunt as he reaches down. He grabs it.

"Thank you for making it harder," Corey remarks.

"Don't worry about it," you respond. You have been known to make it harder.

"We should get ready for the on ice training," Corey says. He has read your mind.

"Yes we should," You turn your attention to your gear. You slip your chest guard on over your undershirt. Even though it has only been a week you are still not used to the idea of putting your blackhawks gear. It doesn't take you long to get everything ready. Three minutes later Jeremy has given everyone their tasks. You are waiting for Jonathan who is doing some stick handling. He tries to shoot but you are easily able to deflect it.

"Sorry about that," Jonathan remarks.

"It's ok you can try again," You respond. You get ready for the next shot. It's from Patrick. This time you miss the puck. At least you tried.

"Don't worry about it," Patrick tries to make you feel better. It's a good thing that you have the encouragement of the team. After an hour of training you are getting ready to go. You quickly get your helmet off. There is something bothering you.

"That was some good goaltending," Corey remarks. He is hiding something. A loud whistle pieces the air. It's Jonathan. Everyone's attention snapps to him. You start to think about what he could be doing with a goaltender's helmet.

"Ok everyone I would like to officially welcome Lexi Ovechkin even though she has been with us for a week," He announces as he passes you a brand new goaltender's helmet. You are hit by a wave of embarrassment. You take a second to absorb what just happened.

"Thank...you," You stammer. It just makes it worse for you. You just settle on admiring the design. You are impressed at what the others have come up with for you. Another week later you are getting ready for your first game with the Chicago Blackhawks. The team is up against the Colorado Avalanche. You are throwing your tennis ball while you wait for Corey to arrive. You start to wish that you hadn't of come early. At least you had the opportunity to get the base layer of protection. Your thoughts are interrupted by the sound of voices entering the change room. It's Jonathan, Corey and Patrick. They are talking about the game but their attention soon turns to you.

"Hello Lexi," Patrick remarks.

"Hello Patrick, Jon and Corey," You respond.

"I see you've decided to get ready before me," Corey remarks. You toss him the tennis ball. He then throws it against the wall for you. You snatch it out of the air. You continue the tennis ball warm ups while Corey, Patrick and Jonathan get ready. You are happy to finally have your first game. Ten minutes later you are finished with the tennis ball drills and you are getting the last of your goaltending gear on.

"Would you like some help?" Jonathan asks.

"No, thank you," You say as you make sure the straps are tight enough. You jump up with a nervous bounce. Hopefully the others can't tell that you are nervous.

"Lexi are you alright?" Duncan Keith asks.

"Yeah I've got a feeling of nervous excitement for the first game," You respond as you place your goaltender's helmet over your head.

"I think you will be a good addition to the team," Duncan responds. Two minutes later the team has made it to the box and Jermey is assigning warm ups. It's a good thing that you have been assigned to the stick handling warm ups. It will be fun to do. You are also impressed at the crowd for the game. It is the biggest crowd you have ever seen. A minute later everyone has made it to their assigned stations. You are getting ready to save a shot from Patrick Kane. He slaps it towards you but you are able to deflect it using your helmet. Another thirty minutes later the game has started. Jonathan has just snatched the puck from the Avalanche's centre but the defenceman gets it back. He flicks it to the left wing. You brace yourself for the shot. A couple of passes are taken. You hear a loud clap as the puck comes flying towards you. You move your hand to catch the puck. Duncan's face lights up as you catch the puck.

"Duncan, make sure you are free," you command.

"I'm ready," Duncan responds as he slips past the wing. You use the opportunity to slide him the puck.

"Over here," Dominik Kubalík calls out. Duncan passes him the puck. A minute later he has made it down the rink. He then passes it to Patrick who scores. The goal horn sounds and the crowd goes wild. You add your cheer to the crowd. Your thoughts are soon interrupted by the face off. Johnathan has got the puck and he is weaving his way through the other players. He then flicks the puck to Dominik. The defenceman soon bares down on him but he passes it to Brent Seabrook. He then gets it to Jonathan who scores again. You brace yourself against the Avalanche's centre who is coming at you with great speed. He tries his best to get it into the goal but you are able to kick the puck away with your skates but it lands in the stick of the right wing. He goes for the slap shot. You try your best but you are unable to get the puck before it goes into the goal. The goal horn sounds.

"Blyat," You utter. At least you tried to stop it. Ten minutes later the period has finished and you are leaning against the fence.

"So Lexi what do you think their strategy is?" Jermey asks.

"They are favoring the right wing," You respond. It is a good thing that you are not letting the fact that you couldn't save one goal bother you. You take a massive gulp from your water bottle.

"Hey lexi you are doing a good job," Jonathan remarks.

"Thank you," You respond. It feels good to be complemented during your first game. You are having fun despite the pressure on you to save as many goals as possible. Two minutes later you have made it back to the goal and you are thinking about what you could do to make sure you can save the goals. Jonathan is ready to take the face off. The umpire places the puck between the two centers and what happens next is probably one of the most impressive things you will ever see in a hockey game. Jonathan has raised the puck over the other centre's head and Alex Nylander has gotten it. He flicks it to Dominik who then scores. Again you add your cheers to the crowd. You get ready for the right wing who has just gotten the puck from the centre. He tries to shoot it but you are able to get your head in the way. It's a good thing you have the goaltender's helmet but there is still going to be a bruise. The left wing takes the puck and he tries to score but you are able to catch it.

"Brent make sure you are open," You are waiting for the right moment.

"Sure," Brent replies as he slips past the other players. You flick the puck to him. He soon passes it back to Alex. The defenceman soon descend on him. After a minute of wrestling for the puck the defenceman comes out victorious. You get ready to save the goal. He passes it to the right wing who then tries to score. He doesn't because you are able to deflect it again. Ten minutes later the period has come to an end.

"Lexi if you don't mind I am going to put Corey on," Jermey says.

"I don't mind," you respond. You could do with the break. You take the spot that Corey was occupying. It will be a fun period to watch.

"Lexi, that was an impressive save," Patrick remarks.

"Which one," you are a little confused as to what he means.

"Any of them," He replies. He has a point. You start to wonder if you have done better in your first game for the blackhawks than you did in college hockey. The others take to the ice and your thoughts are now occupied on the game. Kirby Dach has just taken the puck from the other centre. He is struggling to get it down the ice.

"Kirby," Patrick offers as Kirby is almost trampled by the defenceman. He manages to flick it to him. A minute later he has taken it the rest of the way down but instead of shooting he passes it back to Kirby. He uses the opportunity to score and he does. Nineteen minutes later the game has finished and you are taking your gear off.

"So Lexi what do you think of the success that is your first game?" Alex asks.

"It was good," You respond. You start to think about the game as a whole. There were a lot of things that impressed you about both teams.