Free Shutout (The Renegades Series Book 5) by Melody Heck Gatto Page B

Before the next rush, he grabbed his water bottle and squirted cool water through his mask, briefly cooling himself off. Taking his place back in the net, he slid side to side, digging his skates into the ice. He lightly tapped the metal goal post to his left. It was out of habit more than necessity. During games, he tapped the goal posts, thanking them when they helped him keep a puck out of his goal.
    But this was only practice, and during practice he liked to harass the other guys. Patrick rushed to the net shooting left, straight into his glove. “Ha ha, not today, Patty boy. Next time put some muscle into it!”
    Quickly getting back into position, Kris shot at him, just missing the net. “Man you have no aim. Dude, the goal is over here. Hoser!”
    Behind him, the fans cheered loudly and pounded on the glass as Tyler rushed to the net. Dom’s job was to ignore the fans. His job was also to stop players like Tyler. He passed the puck to Patrick, and he slid it back across the ice to Ty. Before he could react, Tyler shot a strong wrister at the net, sliding the biscuit right under Dom’s pads.
    “Dammit!” Dom yelled as he slammed his stick against the ice. Reminding himself there were plenty of kids watching, he took a breath and calmed. Tyler was expected to score; he was the league’s star. Dom just didn’t like Ty scoring on him . He didn’t like anyone scoring on him.
    The crowd roared around the arena, cheering on their captain. “That’s right, stroke his ego, like it’s not big enough as it is,” Dom mumbled jokingly under his mask. He was fairly sure no one could hear him, until Patrick tapped his leg pad with his stick.
    “I know, right? If it gets any bigger he won’t be able to get his helmet on that big melon anymore.” Pat chuckled and rolled his eyes. “It’s only practice, no need to showboat, Ty.”
    “I let him score. You know, make him look good in front of the fans. They don’t need to know that he’s just a bender,” Dom joked, louder this time. His mask covered his mouth and he wanted the guys to hear him. That was his thing, razzing the guys during practice.
    Tyler moved his gloved hand like a duck bill, mocking their chatter. “Less talk, ladies, more playing,” he quipped. “You need to be sharper than that, Dom. You forget, I’m all score.”
    “Whatever. You think you’re all score. You’re actually all bore!” Dom knew that was a lame comeback, but it was all he had.
    “Don’t be jealous, Dom. Someday you can be like me, with a little more practice.” Tyler cracked a smile, then tapped his leg pad. “Nice try anyway.”
    The scrimmage game was tied at two apiece. Coach blew his whistle and each team returned to their bench. Coach Walker pointed to three men on the gray team, and assistant coach Sal pointed to three on white. “Line up for the shootout!”
    Dom craved shootouts; they were his favorite. Just him against the shooter. One on one.
    Sam shot at Kaden first, a fake out to his left, then a quick wrister from the right and GOAL!
    “All right Sam!” Dom yelled. But now he was up. Quickly his focus was on Ty, who was racing up the ice at him, eyes trained on the back of the net. Ty had a habit of looking right through you. His body turned to the left but his eyes flinched to the right. Dom knew that meant Ty was going to try to fake him out. Nope, not today Kidd . Dom lunged to his left; the puck bounced off his blocker, up and over the goal.
    “Boom! No goal, Ty!” One more goal for white and they would win.
    Luc was up next. Barely pausing at the blue line, he sped to the puck, then toward Kaden. With a quick movement, he flipped the puck over his left shoulder to the back of the net. “That’s what I’m talking about!” Luc pumped his fist in the air in celebration.
    Coach blew his whistle. “Gray team, laps! White team, hit the showers.”
    “Hey Kaden, I’ll wait for you in the locker room. I know just the place for lunch!”

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