James Potter
James
It’s morning practice, my very favourite kind of practice really. Maybe it’s the adrenaline i get from waking up so early and just pushing myself to be constantly better. It feels good knowing that i truly am the best in the world. People say i have an ego for admitting it but i say that there’s a difference between having an ego and just being self aware.
We are practicing well. There were worries before the start of this season if we would be as good as have been previously since our best left wing has been injured badly and is unable to play. Luckily we don’t let that kind of thing stop us. We have been the undefeated team for 2 years, we have every right to be confident.
In the locker room after practice a few of the guys start talking about our biggest competitors. Of course they bring up the USA and Russia wich have always been the only ones who even stand a chance against us. One guy mentions France, it’s weird since i’ve never even thought that they could win against us.
“Why do you think they could beat us?”
i say in a confused tone. The french have never really seemed like the hockey type to me. I know that they do play and try hard as well, but being a competitor to the Canadians? i don’t think so.
“Haven’t you heard man? they have a new captain and apparently he’s really switching things up”
my teammate says in reply. This guy must be amazing if he’s magically making their whole team good. Im curious about this boy, who is he and how is he so talented?
“whats the guys name, i wanna look him up”
i say back to my teammate. Maybe its weird how nosy i am, i just want to know who he is. I don’t think it’s strange if im just curious about him. After all it’s just one player being in interested in another. He must be young if he only became captain this year, that doesn’t scare me. Everyone knows im undefeated.
“Sirius Black”
the boy replies. I definitely recognise that name. but where from? I remember my girlfriend Lily talking about some figure skating dude who’s apparently the best in the world. Regulus Black or something, he’s also french so it must be his brother. I recall a few years back when we played the french, there was some young right wing. Sirius Black. I remember him now.
I nod to my teammate and then go back to changing. I don’t want to talk to them anymore. Im just thinking back to that game. I know that i thought the kid was good, probably too good for his team. I also know that me and Regulus Black locked eye contact that day. His piercing grey eyes almost stared through mine, I’ll never forget them.
I suppose i’ll see both brothers at the Olympics. Maybe I’ll be lucky and talk to them, well i know that me and Sirius Black will definitely meet again on that hockey rink. although It’s not him im as intrigued with. The person that really interests me is Regulus Black, im not even sure why.
After that long day of practice i finally get home. I tell myself im going to stalk Sirius’ instagram just so i can get an idea of his skill level and what he’s like as a person but somehow i end up on Regulus’ profile instead.
Im trying to decide if it’s weird or not if i follow him. We both do ice sports so we have things in common and we both share some of the same followers. I take a deep breath and just go for it. It’s not that deep, it’s just instagram. I fall asleep soon after, i always make sure to get my full 8 hours of sleep since i need to be energised to play my best.
Over the next few days we train hard. We decide to add in 2 extra hours of practice. It means i have barely any time for anything but hockey but i know that it’s worth it. I didn’t think we would need extra practice like this but if people are saying we might have competition then i don’t want to take the risk.
Everyone on the team seems way more determined than usual, it feels good since im used to most of them being so lazy all the time. The Olympics is a big deal and i think that it’s good if we have a little bit of friendly competition.
The days pass quicker than i would like them to. Soon the day we leave is coming closer and closer and my nerves are picking up. It’s so unlike me to feel like this, im normally so carefree and calm but it’s suddenly changed just because of some French boy. I bet he’s not even competition to me.
On our final day of practice we all push ourselves extra hard. Theres an unusual amount of us arriving at the rink before practice even starts. Some of the people coming early are the ones that usually cant even wake up at 7 but suddenly they are waking up at 4 or 5? The Olympic nerves are really getting to us.
Eventually we are all on the plane together along with the other people in team Canada. I sit next to my girlfriend on the plane. She’s a figure skater and i think shes just the most beautiful girl in the world. For some reason in the past few weeks she’s been acting off. Im sure it’s just nerves. right?
The atmosphere is as good as always. Us Canadians know how to be excited, especially for winter sports. No one knows them better than us. Most of my nerves are gone. Im not afraid of it now.