Page 137 of Rookie Rules

"That is a description, not a treatment plan."

"Recovery and monitoring. Same as yesterday."

Owen wrote something on the tablet. "If it changes during tomorrow's skate, you come off. I am recording that you were told."

Rowan sat up. "Fine."

"You are many things. That is not the word I would select."

Owen left him with a resistance band and an instruction to report after treatment.

Through the glass, Rowan saw Luca and Finn remain on the ice after the rest of the team left. Ten pucks sat at the right circle. The weekly mentor schedule included twenty minutes of release work there, with Rowan feeding from below the goal line.

Finn had taken Rowan's place without being asked.

Luca received the first pass and shot wide. On the second, he adjusted his lower hand and hit the inside post. Finn collected the rebound, circled behind the net, and fed him again.

Rowan finished the band exercise and stepped back through the gate.

"We're done for today," he called.

Finn rested the puck beneath his blade. "We have eighteen minutes."

"The team session ran long. Recovery takes priority."

Luca skated to the pile and nudged the pucks closer together. "This is on my plan."

"I'm changing the plan."

"Because of my load or yours?"

The question carried across the quiet rink. An equipment assistant gathering bottles at the far bench lowered his head and continued working.

"Both," Rowan said.

Luca's shoulders set. "Finn is feeding. Your hip is not involved."

"You had a high-intensity session."

"My tracking numbers were below target because Vale moved me to the second group."

Rowan had not checked Luca's load report. He had seen the extra session and felt the exclusion before considering the purpose.

Owen appeared at the gate behind him, tablet under one arm. "Bennett is cleared for the scheduled volume."

"I am responsible for his development plan," Rowan said.

"And I am responsible for physical load. If this is a medical decision, it is mine."

Finn's expression lost the last trace of humor. Luca waited beside the pucks, offering Rowan a chance to separate authority from impulse.

Vale came down from the viewing level before Rowan used it.

"Why did the shooting session stop?" he asked.

"I changed the plan," Rowan said.

"On what basis?"