dying-redshirt-noises:

[click here to start from the beginning]

It’s a tough game against the Bruins, always is. They play good, hard, old-time hockey, and even though the Falconers are a fairly new team, proximity quickly creates rivals. Alexei’s had a lot of work to do in terms of deflecting shots and keep Boston players away from the net. It’s a tough game for Snowy’s first start, but he’s held off every shot so far. Marty and Guy each have a goal, and the Bruins are starting to play more desperately, taking harder shots and giving harder hits. Laflamme is already out of the game after a big hit from Chara. At 6′4″, Alexei is taller than a lot of guys but definitely not Chara.

At ten minutes left in the game, Marchand comes barreling in with the puck, and Snowy dives out in a reckless save, covering the puck and knocking down Marchand in the process. Alexei goes in on standby. Marchand gets up, shouts at Snowy, gives him a hard shove. He’s got 63 by the sweater before he even realizes it, shouting, “Don’t you fucking mess with goalie!”

“Get the fuck off me!”

“Maybe then don’t fucking push goalie!”

The linemen come in and break it up fairly quickly, but the Providence crowd is cheering and shouting. Alexei still has tunnel vision almost, wants to punch Marchand in his rat face, wants to make him pay for daring to shove his friend. Let him try that shit again. He has a devastating hit planned for him if he does.

“Hey, great game, Snowy!”

“A shutout for your first game! Fuckin’ A!”

Alexei grins from his locker, pride welling up in his chest. Yes, that’s my friend. My roomie got a shutout! A hand claps his shoulder, causing him to turn. Marty smiles at him, says, “That was a great last shift, Tater Tot.”

Alexei blinks at him.

“Marty, what is Tater Tots?”

“Uh… it’s like a food. Tiny potatoes?”

“Why you are calling me tiny potato?”

“I finally thought of a good nickname for you,” Marty explains, “I couldn’t think of anything before, but I think Tater fits pretty well.”

“Tater is like potato?”

“Yeah, and who the shit doesn’t love potatoes? C’mere…”

He leads Alexei over to the rest of the group. Thirdy calls out, “There’s Tater! Tater, you were incredible! I can’t believe you almost kicked Marchand’s ass!”

“Well, since he so much smaller, I thought would be unfair.”

The guys all laugh.

“Yeah, that’s sure gonna teach guys not to mess with Snowy, though…”

Alexei catches Snowy’s gaze, and the two friends share a smile. Good game. Very good game.