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I learned that Brooke is a good listener She’s funny, in an understated kind of way By the end of dinner, I could tell Brooke didn’t have an arrogant bone in her body, and as I watch her talking to Erik’s date, it’s even irlfriends have steered clear of the wo to whatever the woman says with immense interest

Bottom line…she’s just nice like that

The guys ame we have in San Francisco I’ve been pleasantly surprised this week during training caeance have soet traded to a new teaine bringing in thirty guys fro styles and who have been coached differently, and throwing theether on the ice

Well, I’d pretty much expected disaster

Instead, and for whatever reason, our lines caether quickly and we just sort of have an intuition out there that seeuys that are essentially strangers Hopefully that will continue for upcoular season

Even Tacker—and rated somewhat He’s quiet and won’t seek out conversation, but will politely engage if you make the first move But out on the ice, he’s a different person He’s subtly co and exerts such confidence that he’s almost a comfort to the other players It’s like if Tacker thinks we can do it, we can do it It helps that he’s one of the best players the league has ever seen, and even at thirty years of age, he can outskate oalie in a one-on-one situation

“I’ll be back in a ht be listening Erik’s going on and on about a great topless bar in San Francisco he wished we had ti that sadly we’ll have to go straight to the teaeles

Brooke’s eyes catch iveswith my hands, I mouth the words, Want another drink?

She shakes her head and I shoot her a thumbs-up

At the bar, I take an eh there’s one on his left too He doesn’t give off thevibes and he’s currently hunched over what looks to be a glass of bourbon on the rocks

“What’s up, man?” I say as I sit down beside him

“Not et the guy is sort of antisocial, but why even bother hanging around after the dinner was over?

I mean, I’ loss of his fiancée I certainly can understand being withdrawn, but I’ to let that thwart ether at the beginning of training ca and center, we need to trust and anticipate each other Sometimes it’s done with communication

Other ti to do

“Monday night,” I say to get his attention, and he turns to look atthe San Francisco Bay Brawlers “If they have Bronson in goal, he’s always down in the butterfly stance It’s like once he starts, he can’t stop, so be on the lookout for that”

I know this well, because Bronson played with the Vipers for two seasons as our backup before he went to San Francisco to be their primary

“So what’s the best play?” Tacker asks ured hi as you talk about hockey with hie openly

“When I have the puck behind the net if I have some space, sneak into the corner pie,” I tell him The corner pie is a quarter of the faceoff circle that sits closest to the blue line and the center of the ice It’s a center’s dream to shoot from “I’ll find you”

Tacker gives h, stick side”

“Exactly” I look overto leave her alone for too long She’s still engaged with Erik’s date, and she’s actually talking ani to knohat they could possibly have in common