Puck Panic, page 1
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Cover
Title Page
Chapter 1: Tournament Hopes
Chapter 2: Game Gone Wrong
Chapter 3: Checking!
Chapter 4: Nightmare on Ice
Chapter 5: Blade Defeat
Chapter 6: Under the Pines
Chapter 7: Confession Time
Chapter 8: Calvin’s Toolbox
Chapter 9: Breaking Out
Author Bio
Illustrator Bio
Glossary
Discussion Questions
Writing Prompts
Hockey Fun Facts
Explore More
Copyright
Back Cover
Cover
Title Page
Table of Contents
Start of Content
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back cover
CHAPTER 1
TOURNAMENT HOPES
Calvin crouched over his stick in his position at left wing. Across the red line was the opposing team. They stood ready for the opening face-off.
The Sycamores were huge. They looked like mountains dressed up as hockey players.
Calvin knew his team was going to have to skate hard to get around all that muscle. But the Blades were ready. They had been training for the Pickton Winter Classic tournament for a month. Now here they were. First game out of three.
The ref started skating out with the puck. Calvin’s best friend, Frank, glanced over his shoulder from his position as center.
We got this, Frank mouthed.
Calvin nodded. He tapped his stick three times on the ice. That was his and Frank’s special signal. They had done it in every game since they were seven years old. They were still doing it now at twelve.
The ref dropped the puck. Frank and the Sycamore center lunged for it.
The Sycamore hit the puck to his wing. The player tried to make a quick pass. But a Blades defender just as quickly knocked it away.
The black disc went flying across the ice. Calvin powered after it. Snow shot up from his skates.
Calvin was one of the smaller players on his team. But that also made him one of the fastest.
Calvin zipped around a big Sycamore defender. Then he hooked his stick around the puck and whipped it to Frank in one sweep.
Frank took the breakaway. The Sycamore goalie crouched. He got ready for the shot.
“Shoot to the side!” Calvin shouted.
Frank did just that. The puck flew left. It went straight into the net! The Blades cheered.
“Goal! Goal!” Calvin shouted, skating up to his friend. “Yeah, dude!”
“Thanks, Cal,” Frank said between heavy breaths. They glided to the bench for the line change. “I didn’t see the opening till you said something.”
As they climbed over the boards, Coach Knox raised an eyebrow. “Then good thing Cal coached you,” he said to Frank. “Your buddy got you that goal.”
Frank grinned. “Yeah, I know. I owe you one, Cal.”
Calvin plopped down. Over Coach’s shoulder, Calvin caught sight of that big Sycamore defender. Number 5. The guy was staring right at Calvin. Scowling.
Ignore him, Calvin told himself. He focused on tightening a loose lace.
The second line took over on the ice. They skated just as hard. Rocco made another shot on the goal.
Ping! The puck bounced off the crossbar.
The Sycamores picked it up. They rushed it to the other side of the rink. Then they slammed it into the net. The score was 1–1.
The Blades kept pushing through the first period. Calvin was sweating in his pads when the buzzer blared. The score was still tied.
Just as Calvin had expected, there would be no easy games in the tournament. The Blades were going to have to fight for the win.
CHAPTER 2
GAME GONE WRONG
“Let’s go, Blades!” Frank shouted as they took to the ice in the second period. Calvin and the others spread out in formation for the face-off.
The puck dropped. The Sycamore center slapped it to his right wing.
Jon at defense darted in. He stole the puck before the Sycamores could do anything.
Frank tapped the ice with his stick. Jon made the pass. Frank carried the puck forward into the Blades’ offensive zone.
Then a Sycamore defender was on Frank. He slapped the puck along the boards.
Calvin saw the pass coming. His skates bit into the ice as he powered after it.
But Sycamore number 5, the scowler, was also chasing the puck. They were each coming at it from opposite sides.
Number 5 reached out his stick. Calvin gritted his teeth and zoomed in. He nabbed the puck. He caught sight of the defender’s furious face as he shot it to Frank.
Frank quickly fired at the net. Whump! The Sycamore goalie gloved the puck. The ref’s whistle blew to stop play.
Breathing hard, Calvin started toward the boards for the line change. The Sycamore defender pushed by him.
“Get out of my face, Shorty McShortyson,” Number 5 growled from behind his mask. “Before I step on you like a bug.”
Calvin snorted. The guy was just chirping.
“Short like an elf,” the defender went on.
Calvin stayed silent and kept going. He sank onto the bench. The defender’s chirps were still echoing in his mind.
Calvin had always hated being called short. But something else was bothering him. Step on you like a bug. That was what the guy had said.
Does that mean Number 5 is going to come after me? Calvin wondered. It was probably just trash talk. But what if he meant it?
“Calvin! Line change! Hustle!” Coach shouted.
Frank and the right wing, Charlie, were already skating out. They were taking positions for a face-off in the defensive zone. Calvin shook his head. He quickly joined them.
The puck dropped. Soon, Frank was carrying it up the ice. Calvin followed behind his teammate.
Is Number 5 out here? he thought. He looked around the rink.
“Calvin!” Jon yelled.
Calvin was jerked from his thoughts. It was just in time to see the puck sliding by. It went past him. Then it went right to the stick of the Sycamore wing.
The wing immediately shot it to the center. The center slapped it at the goal.
It happened so fast. Oz, the Blades goalie, barely had time to react. He dropped to his knees. His pads slammed down. They trapped the puck just before it crossed the goal line.
The score was still tied. But back on the bench, Calvin couldn’t look at either Coach Knox or Frank.
“The puck went right by you, Cal!” Coach said. “Where were you, buddy?”
“Sorry,” Calvin mumbled.
He had been busy looking for the Sycamore defender. The guy who was going to stomp on him like a bug. Calvin hadn’t even seen the pass. He hadn’t been focused on the game. The last period was coming up. Calvin wasn’t going to make that mistake again.
CHAPTER 3
CHECKING!
Calvin impatiently tapped his stick. He was lined up on the ice. Ready. Waiting for the puck drop to start the third period. Sycamore number 5 was back out too, but Calvin tried not to look at him.
In the locker room, Coach had reminded the team to focus. Calvin had a feeling the note was meant mostly for him.
Focus on the game, Calvin told himself.
The Sycamore center slapped the puck right as it dropped. The wing took it down the ice.
Walter, a Blades defender, swooped in. He passed it back the other way.
Calvin grabbed the puck. He hustled down the ice.
There was that good feeling. It always came with feeling completely in control. Calvin’s skates were in sync. His stick was easily carrying the puck forward. Up ahead, he could see Charlie was open.
Then, out of nowhere, there was a blur of white and green. The blur slammed into him.
WHAM!
Calvin fell hard. His shoulder hit the ice. Then he felt his helmet bounce against the cold surface.
For a moment, Calvin didn’t understand what had happened. Then he realized—it was Numbe
Bodychecking was an illegal move at their level of play. But Number 5 had done it all the same.
The Sycamore stood over Calvin as the ref zoomed toward them. Coach Knox followed close behind.
“Penalty. Checking,” the ref called. “Two minutes in the penalty box.”
Calvin sat up and rubbed his head.
The Sycamores booed. Coach Knox leaned in to say something to the ref. As he did, the defender leaned over Calvin.
“Shorty,” Number 5 hissed. Then he skated off to the box.
“Hey, that was a really dirty check,” Coach said. He knelt beside Calvin. “You okay?”
Calvin struggled to his feet. His shoulder was throbbing, but he wasn’t going to say that. Shorty. Shorty. The word bounced around in his head.
“Yeah, I’m fine, Coach,” he said aloud.
Calvin’s throat was tight. He felt tears coming. He was definitely not going to let himself cry. No way. He blinked hard.
“Good,” Coach Knox said, patting him on the back. “Come on to the bench for a minute.”
Calvin nodded like he knew Coach wanted him to. But all he could see was Number 5 rushing forward. About to smash him.
Out on the ice, the Blades tried to take advantage of the power play. Charlie passed to Frank. A Sycamore defender flew in, and Frank dropped the puck back. Wide open, Charlie took the breakaway. He fired off a clean goal.
Cheers rose from the Blades on the bench. Calvin weakly joined in. But he couldn’t take his eyes off Number 5. The player was scowling as he left the penalty box.
Number 5 got back on the ice. It was never at the same time as Calvin, though. Calvin was embarrassed by how glad he felt not to be anywhere near the guy. The clock continued to wind down. Soon, the buzzer blared.
Charlie’s goal had been the last of the game. That left the Blades ahead 2–1. They had won the first tournament game. That should’ve made Calvin feel better, but it didn’t.
The night sky was clear when Calvin and Frank left the arena. Calvin breathed in. Frost, snow, ice. Some of his favorite smells. His lungs felt good, but his mind was a mess. He walked silently.
“Hey, what’s wrong with you?” Frank asked. “We won!”
Calvin shrugged. “Nothing. Just mad about that check.”
Frank dug into his bag. “It could’ve been worse. That guy was huge!” He pulled out his water bottle. He sprayed a stream of sports drink into his mouth. “Remember Jack from hockey camp? We were texting. He said he broke his arm a couple months ago when a guy checked him.”
Calvin swallowed. Up ahead, he could see the lights of his mom’s car. The night suddenly seemed big and dark. He wanted to be home. On his couch. Under a blanket.
“Yeah,” Frank went on cheerfully, “Jack is a wing too, just like you.” He made a motion. “He said it went SNAP! Like a twig.”
A car horn beeped. Frank raised his head. “Be right there, Dad!” he called. Then he turned and added, “See you tomorrow, Cal!”
“Bye, Frank,” Calvin said. He tried to sound casual. But inside, he felt as cold as the night around him.
CHAPTER 4
NIGHTMARE ON ICE
The other players were massive. Calvin had never seen such giants on the ice. The empty arena stretched all around them.
Calvin realized he was alone on the home team’s side. Where was everyone else? They must be in the locker room.
Fear bubbled up in Calvin. He knew what was going to happen.
Then, suddenly, it was happening. The buzzer blared. The giant players were in motion. They were charging straight for him.
Calvin tried to skate away, but he couldn’t move. He was frozen.
The giant players were getting closer. Closer and closer and—
Then Calvin was awake, panting in his bed.
He rolled over. His heart was thumping, and his T-shirt was sweaty. Behind the curtains, the sky was just starting to lighten.
Calvin groaned as he pulled himself out of bed. It was Saturday, but Coach Knox had called an early morning practice.
Down in the kitchen, Dad set the cereal boxes on the table in front of Calvin. Mom was heating a pan on the stove.
“Mom, um, can I have four sausages?” Calvin asked.
“Sure.” Mom shook out two more frozen sausage links from the package. “Hungry this morning?”
“Something like that,” Calvin replied.
He filled his cereal bowl to the brim. Maybe if he ate more, he would get bigger faster. Then he couldn’t be knocked over so easily. He could plow through other players like they were toothpicks. That sounded good.
Calvin took a couple bites of cereal. Then he added some more to his bowl.
After Calvin finished, he put his dishes in the sink. He groaned as he went upstairs to gather his gear. He felt way too full.
“Are you feeling okay, Cal?” Mom asked when he got into the car. “That was a big hit you took yesterday. Sure you’re up for practice? You look kind of sweaty.”
“I’m fine.” Calvin looked out the window. He tried not to think about more food.
Soon, they were pulling up to the rink. “Take it easy today!” Mom called as Calvin stepped out. “Don’t push yourself too hard!”
“Got it,” Calvin called back.
Inside, Calvin suited up and joined the team. Coach Knox ran them through some warm-ups. Then it was stickhandling and shooting drills. Toward the end of practice, Coach handed out yellow pinnies to one half the team. Then blue to the other half. They were going to run a scrimmage.
Calvin tried to ignore the flip-flopping in his stomach. It felt both nervous and stuffed. He decided then that he would give up on the eat-more-get-bigger plan. It was just making him feel like barfing.
“All right, play this like it’s game two of the tournament!” Coach called as the teams got into positions. “Remember, these three games are the qualifiers for the championship round. We’ve won one. But we’ve got two more to go over the next week.”
The players tapped their sticks to show they had heard. Calvin did it too.
But really, he was trying to ignore the creepy feeling that his dream was coming to life. He stared at the yellow team across from him. They were Blades. His teammates. But somehow the players looked gigantic.
Then Coach dropped the puck. Frank slapped at it, but Rocco got it first. The yellow team took the puck toward the net.
The defenders on Calvin’s team wrestled for possession. Jon knocked the puck out of the defensive zone.
The black disc spun away wildly. Calvin raced after it. He dug his skates in and focused on the puck. But then from the corner of his eye, he saw Rocco coming.
It was just like in Calvin’s dream. The other player was so huge. He was rushing forward so fast!
Without thinking, Calvin swerved. He darted away from Rocco and the puck.
Rocco paused for a split second, clearly surprised at having the puck to himself. But then he shot it for a goal. Calvin’s side groaned.
“Cal!” Coach Knox called. “What was that?”
“Sorry!” Calvin called back.
Get your head straight, he ordered himself. If he was acting like this in a scrimmage, what was going to happen in the next game?
CHAPTER 5
BLADE DEFEAT
The next day, the Blades pushed through the doors of the huge arena. It was game two of the tournament. This was the home of their next opponents.
The high glass ceiling revealed the dark evening sky outside. A large green-and-gold silk banner reading “Hawks” hung in the lobby.
“Nice,” Rocco muttered.
“Sweet, right?” Frank said. “I bet their ice is super nice too.”
Calvin nodded. But he felt small in the big space. Even smaller standing next to his taller teammates. He started to feel sweaty. Panicky. He shuddered.
Frank must have noticed. He stopped and looked at Calvin. “Hey!” he said. “You okay? You’ve been acting kind of weird since that Sycamore game.”
For a minute, Calvin wanted to confess everything. He wanted to tell Frank how that illegal check in the first game was the hardest hit he had ever taken. How it had made him feel so tiny. So breakable. Now, it was like he had fallen down a hole of worry. And he didn’t know how to climb out.
Calvin bit the words back. He couldn’t admit how scared he was. That would be wimpy. Besides, there wasn’t anything Frank could do anyway.
“Yep. I’m fine,” Calvin said. “Just feeling the pressure of the tournament, I guess.”
