Page 4 of A Shot at Love
It was great in theory; getting to this point, but now came the hard part; becoming one of only a small group of women to hold front facing positions in one of the most popular sports leagues in the world. Talk about a weight on your shoulders…
Frankie’s phone buzzed beside her on the passenger seat and she closed her eyes and inhaled deeply before flipping the visor back up and grabbing her phone. She unlocked it and smiled at the unread message waiting for her.
Sydney – 8:23AM
Hope your first day goes well! You've got this!!!
Her best friend Sydney always seemed to know when she needed a bit of reassurance and despite Sydney being an ocean away and playing for her own pro team in Sweden, she never forgot to message Frankie in big moments.
Frankie 8:24AM
Thank you! Currently working up the nerve to actually go inside…I will let you know how things go. Good luck tonight, go Lulea!
With one last sigh and a glance around her car to ensure she had everything she needed, Frankie decided it was time to rip the bandaid off. She was going to be strong, she was going to be respected, she was going to have agreatday.
Neil Richardson wasn’t large in stature but what he lacked in size he made up for in personality. Frankie had already met him and the other coaching staff but sitting in a small conference room as they finished preparations for their initial introduction meeting with the team, Neil commanded everyone’s attention.
“I’m so thrilled to be working with you all and it’s such an honour to be the first people chosen to lead this team. With any new endeavour, there’s a lot of pressure,” Neil said, glancing at Frankie. “For some more than others.”
Frankie smiled and offered a slight nod before he carried on, looking at the other people seated at the table.
“But we’re all here for a reason, we were all chosen to be here for a reason, we deserve to be here, and now we get to show hockey fans why this city deserves this team. For some of us, this is our first NHL training camp season and for others, we’ve been here before, but where we are right now, here in this building with the group of guys we’re about to all go meet, this is special. Who's ready to have some fun?”
Everyone clapped, the coaching staff eager and excited to kick off a new hockey season and a few minutes later, once they’d all gathered their notebooks and paperwork, they headed down the hall towards the state of the art video review room.
The space was filled with tiered rows of plush theatre style seats, a large screen taking up nearly the entire wall at the front. Next to the screen, a podium with a computer on it was pre-set up for video replay and team strategy sessions while a projector fixed to the ceiling was ready and waiting to show anything the coaches needed to focus on on any given day.
A long table pushed against the right side of the room was lined with with a rack of charging tablets, available at any time for players to use during reviewsessions to analyze individual performances with up to date stats and different video angles.
It was the most advanced tech set-up Frankie had seen thus far in her coaching career and one of the many ways in which she was constantly reminded of the fact that she really was in the big leagues now. Her previous coaching position had been considered elite but nothing came close to the environment she found herself in now.
She took her place alongside the other coaches at the front of the room, tugging her team issued quarter zip training top down a little in hopes it would settle her nervous energy. She pushed her hair behind her ears and rolled her shoulders back, taking a long deep breath. She counted to five, letting the air settle deep in her chest before she exhaled and slipped her hands into her pockets.
The sound of murmured voices in the hallway grew louder and a moment later, the room began to fill with hockey players, some Frankie recognized but many she didn't
Doing her best to seem unphased, she watched as many of the men on the team took the time to shake the hands of the male coaches. Meanwhile, she stood alone, like an unapproachable outsider on the fringes of the coaching staff despite the smile she had pasted on.
Her demeanour wasn’t an act, she was happy to be there and excited for the challenge, but this was likely new territory for everyone in the room right now. Very few men, especially in the sports world, were used to working with a woman, let alone a woman in a position of power. Frankie knew this and she’d give them the benefit of the doubt for now but being dismissed by everyone still hurt.
Well,almosteveryone.
She locked eyes with one of the players as he introduced himself to a member of the coaching staff standing next to her before he turned his attention to her.
"Nice to meet you," he said, his voice light and easy going. "I'm Cameron Clarke and I'm so excited to be here."
Frankie studied his features, his blue eyes and the cut of his jaw, the shade of his shaggy blonde hair, and for some odd reason, the image of the woman Frankie had met in the gym – Jules – appeared in her head.
"Nice to meet you Cameron," she said, accepting his hand, giving it a firm shake. "I'm Frankie Stevens. I'll be one of your assistant coaches this season."
"Well then," Cameron said, offering her a wide, boyish grin. "I can't wait to get started, Coach.”
The reality of being called coach by one of these men for the first time wasn’t lost on Frankie and pride bloomed in her chest despite her knowing the daunting task that lay ahead.
She nodded at Cameron, returning his smile, and he took his seat with the rest of the team, easily slipping into conversation and laughing at something one of his teammates said to him. There was a familiarity there that she didn't understand yet, a tether tugging at her when she looked at Cameron. Frankie thought about her again, about Jules, but she didn’t know why. Before she could give it any more thought, Neil cleared his throat, grabbing her attention.
Focus, Frankie, she told herself, giving her head a little shake.
“Gentleman,” Neil said, as the last stragglers found their seats. “Welcome to another season in the big leagues. My name is Neil Richardson and for those who don’t know me, I’ve been coaching in this league for over twenty years. I’ve had the honour of lifting the cup twice, and now you guys are the ones who are stuck with me. I hope you’re just as excited about it all as I am.”
