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The first day of training campwhere it all starts for us

A new season

Another run at the Cup

My first day as achampion Carolina Cold Fury

Fuck yeahI could probably get a hard-on just froht now

I walk to the tea room in the basement of the Cold Fury arena First order of business is to attend this "welco where all the new acquisitions are introduced Then we'll have a teas with the coaches, and end the day with a party at Coach Pretore's house I feel like tying one on tonight, and I never denyI want I understand Coach's welcouys will be willing to head out after for soht of freedom before the season starts, and I can't think of a better way to end it than drinks with ht off

Nodding at a few players I recognize, either fro checked them hard into the boards, my eyes catch on Garrett Sa about five rows up from the bottom with thewith Zack Granthaer for the Cold Fury Garrett sees me and waves me over

We played a year together in Pittsburgh and I was his defense with hi on the first line I iven

Gray Brannon, the general er of the Cold Fury, used her statistical ue and put a hard push to acquire me this year from the Titans My stats have ue, but Gray says those numbers don't show the true story While I didn't talk to her directly, according to ent, she says in her opinion I'm really the best I'm not an overly huo ahead and agree with her

I ivesIntroductions aren't needed, since the last time the Titans played the Cold Fury was just this past February Afterward, I went out for a few beers with Garrett, Alex, Zack, and the tea out until the next day All good dudes, and fuckAlex is the best player in the league right now, so I kno fortunate I a charoup today is Ryker, and that's because he decided not to renew his contract with the Cold Fury

In a ossips buzzing, Ryker stepped off his goalie throne as one of the all-tireats and decided to retire the week after he helped bring the Cup to Raleigh, just a few short o In another not quite so controversial move, but one that set feot married Thereafter, it was absolutely no surprise when he accepted a position on the goalie coaching staff with the Cold Fury While it didn't appear the executive board had a proble involved with the team's boss, I'd bet dollars to pesos that Ryker had a problee respect for Gray and doesn't want to interfere with her history-er

"Welcome to the team, my man," Garrett says as they all shuffle down a seat to let me take the one on the end

"Thanks Good to be here," I tell him

"Are you all moved in?" Alex asks as he leans forward on the other side of Garrett to look at me

"All et done sometime next summer"

"Say the word, dude," Zack says from the other side of Alex "I bet Sutton, Olivia, Kate, and Gray could get you unpacked in about two hours flat You provide pizza and beer for us all, we'll get it done"

"Yeah," I drawl out with a grin "Not about to have my boss unpack my underwear boxes"

"It's all good," Garrett says "Gray is just a normal chick when she steps out of the GM's office"

And speak of the devil, Gray Brannon walks in alongside her father, the team's CEO, Brian Brannon, followed by Coach Pretore and the rest of the coaching staff Ryker Evans brings up the rear, his eyes pinned to wife's ass The voices in the roo their way, and then apparently planned withoutThe claps increase in staccato and volu out, and then a low chant, "Gray, Gray, Gray, Gray"

I stand up and do the saive kudos where they're due Gray Brannon turned this tea opposition from players, coaches, executives, and fans across the country

Gray actually blushes, slides a grin to her dad, and then holds up her hands to quiet the tea back down, she says, "Okay, you big jerks, trying to ?"

Everyone chuckles, and then her eyes harden It's time for business

"We're going to win the Stanley Cup again this year," she says with not a hint of egotism in her voice "Any questions?"

Dead silence until soht we are"

"Exactly," she says, leveling a beaeous chick No wonder Ryker fell for her "Now, that's all I have I'll turn it over to Coach Pretore"

Gray and Brian Brannon both step back and lean against the wall Coach Pretore steps up to the podiureat teaot a better team this year But we must be humble and realize that it still takes hard work, perseverance, and unification as a tea to work you harder than you've ever worked before, and you're going to begto reach deep into your gut for every gaanization Aht?"

A chorus of guys echo out agreeet out on the ice Coach Pretore scans his men with proud eyes and nods his approval

"All right, we got some new members to the team Let's take a moment so I can introduce them"