The First Fourteen

[DreMin15 220]

 The First Fourteen

A rookie's first fourteen games

   I had never thought of joining a league such as this before. My mind had always drifted of playing hockey all my life, but I had never put much thought into it other than that. Of course I had wanted to join the VHL as a kid, but I never thought it would be possible. So when I got an offer to join the VHLM by GM Sonnett, I was thrilled. Especially with the starting spot in Houston, hell who wouldn't be stoked for that? Of course this was a blessing and a curse. I knew going in that Houston wasn't exactly the best team around. But I was excited to be part of what could become the solution. My first game, game s41 against Ottawa, was one that I'll never forget. Whether that's for a good or bad reason is up to you.

 

 In the dressing room, I was incredibly nervous. I hadn't slept the night before, opting to stay in the gym and work on my reactions. Thankfully around 2 AM I managed to get some rest in. I was due for a long night. As I stepped onto that ice for the first time, I felt something within me light on fire. The crowd. The energy. My teammates, giving me encouragement all day. It helped me grow comfortable. Those first four minutes were the best and worst feeling I've ever had. Walksie managed to tuck one in early, and I could feel the crowd shaking the ice from the energy. Unfortunately, it didn't last that long. A minute later Chungus gets a breakaway and manages to snipe over my shoulder. Not how I expected my first VHLM goal against to be. It only went downhill from there. I managed to hold it until the second, but Chungus put two more in on me and I just felt like I let my team down. In the third, Patty managed to get one in and give us a spark, but they quickly snuffed it out and destroyed me. 5-2 isn't how you ever want a game to go, god forbid your first one. That was a tough loss to deal with, thinking you were part of the solution only to get picked apart your first game.

 

Thank god the next game happened, because I would have been done for in that locker room if we lost. Going into Vegas though, I stayed as far away from the party as I could. I had my mind set on one thing and one thing only, proving myself. I somehow managed to survive the first period without letting in a goal, which I'm pretty sure is the only perfect I've gotten so far. I would like to pause here and thank Patty for being the goalscoring god, because he scored two in the second. Oh yeah I guess Sid is okay too, but thank god they scored. I let one in late, like 4 seconds left late, but I could live with that. WHAT I COULDN'T LIVE WITH IS FUCKING LETTING IN THREE IN THE THIRD. Thankfully both Rosey and Knighty both clapped shots from the point, and we managed to pull away with the team's third win, my first. I was so happy.

 

 However, I dropped the next 12 games. Yeah. Fun times. Notable highlights being my 46 save game, and those times I let in 8 goals. I know that for now, this is my destiny. But I refuse to go down without a fight, and next season I'm going to be lethal. All I can do is get better, work hard, and keep gaining experience.

 

 Drew Minott

Starting goalie for the Houston Bulls

 

[Laine 1,361]