| �The first change that I�m putting into effect is our new Captain,� Brielle said, speaking into the microphones set up in front of her. The press conference was called for the next day, and was basically for Brielle to get used to handling the press again; when she was with the Ice Dogs, the press was practically nonexistent. �For most of this season, we�ve had five rotating Alternate Captains, and since Frankie left, we�ve had four. And I don�t think that not having a C on someone�s sweater, someone who deserves it, is any way to win games and get us to the playoffs, so that�s changing right now.� She looked up at the players assembled at the back of the room. �And the man that I�m naming Captain has deserved it for nearly four years. He�s been in the Pittsburgh organization and has been a Baby Penguin since this team�s inception, and I�m pretty sure that he bleeds black and gold. Until he gets called up to Pittsburgh, he�s going to be the leader of this team. He�s been the unofficial leader of this team ever since I�ve been here, and it�s about time I made it official. He deserves the C more than anyone I know; Tom Kostopolous is the new Captain of this team.� She looked up at Tom, who looked more than surprised. �TK, come and get your new jersey,� she said, picking up the jersey embroidered with his name, his number 29 and a C in the left shoulder. The flashes went off as Tom walked to the podium and claimed his new jersey, holding it up and staring at the C with wide eyes before throwing it on over his shirt and posing for a few shots. He turned to Brielle and grinned, and Brielle couldn�t help but hug him. �Why me?� he whispered quietly into her ear. �Why not Eric or Toby?� �You deserve it,� she replied, �that�s why.� Kostopolous stood next to Brielle as she announced the two Alternate Captains, Toby and Kris. �Unfortunately, Kris is in the hospital due to the injury he received at last night�s game, but he is doing very well and he�ll probably be back on the ice within a few weeks.� She paused and took a deep breath, giving Tom�s hand a quick squeeze below the podium before continuing. �If anyone has any questions, I can take the time to address them now.� �Brielle, can you confirm or deny the rumors about you and Colby Armstrong?� a reporter asked. �The fans have been talking about dating.� Brielle hesitated. �Colby and I were dating, for a few weeks. But we�re not anymore.� �Why not?� someone shouted. �A difference in opinions,� she said quickly. �We�re getting along great as friends and as coach and player. Colby�s performance on the ice is coming along really well, and by the end of the season I�m sure he�ll be one of the most improved rookies in the AHL.� �What about you and Meloche?� another reporter asked. �Fans have seen the both of you flirting before the game yesterday and at a few bars after games.� �Eric and I are dating,� Brielle said slowly. �We�ve known each other since we were kids, we played on the same pee-wee hockey team when we were eleven. Even though we�re dating, it�s not changing his performance on the ice, and as you can see, I�m not favoring him and giving him the C just because he�s my boyfriend. When he�s on the ice and I�m behind the bench, we�re coach and player, and that�s what we agreed on when we started dating.� ~*~*~ �We all packed and ready?� Brielle shouted, sticking her head out from the bus�s door. The team was mostly on the bus, save for the few stragglers who were just getting to the arena. Rob Scuderi was running to the bus, tugging his hockey bag behind him. �Scudsi, you�re right on time,� Brielle smiled, glancing at her watch. Rob made a face as he dropped the bag on the sidewalk next to the bags that the driver was loading into the luggage compartment of the bus. �I thought I was gonna have to drive to Norfolk myself, I�m ten minutes late.� Brielle snickered as he followed her onto the bus. �No, you�re not ten minutes late. I told you ten minutes earlier so that you would be on time.� Rob blinked. �Well� That�s actually a very good idea, could you do that all the time?� he asked. Brielle laughed. �I intend to.� Within minutes, the team was on 81 South heading toward Norfolk, Virginia for two weekend games against the Norfolk Admirals at The Scope. It was eight in the morning, and most of the team was wearing sweatpants and t-shirts, they were playing cards or reading magazines, and part of the defense was playing a license plate game; all in all, there was a relaxed atmosphere around the bus. Brielle was trying desperately to ignore the team's laughter and howls at the poker game that had been assembled between Kotsy, Eric, Murley, Shane and Toby, and was flipping through an old Rolling Stone magazine when her cell phone rang. She grabbed it from the bag that she had shoved under her seat and made her way to the front of the bus, where it was quieter; everyone from the offices were sitting there, most on laptop computers getting the team's paperwork done. She glanced at the caller ID before flipping the phone open. "Hey, what's up?" she asked, settling into a corner seat. "Hey," Calista replied, her voice slightly scratchy thanks to her cell phone. "I'm on my way to Norfolk." Brielle blinked. "I thought you were on vacation..." "I was, but I ran into someone... Long story. But, I just called to say that I'll be at the game. And I'm with Chrissy and Murley's girlfriend Lisa, so they'll be there too." Brielle wrinkled her nose. "I thought that you and Lisa didn't get along..." "We talked for a while when I got home, she was just leaving Matt's house," Calista said. "Everything's cool." Brielle shook her head. "You guys confuse the hell out of me, I swear..." Calista laughed. "We try. But I just wanted to call and let you know, we're on our way and we'll be there in a few hours. And that I'm claiming you the instant I get there for an interview, Miss Head Coach." Brielle smiled. "As often as I hear those words, I'm still not sick of them. Head Coach Brielle Rucchin, it has a ring to it, eh?" "That it does," Calista said with a smile. "I'll let you call Endo, I'll see you when we get to Virginia." "Willdo. Later." "Later." |
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