~Note to the reader of this story: PJ Stock was traded, I have no idea where he is right now I think he was sent to teh Rangers and then they gave him to the Bruins, but I wish him the best of luck~
Nick looks up from tying his skate, which for some reason always seems to come undone, and watches as AJ skates by him quickly working with Fedetenko and Williams on a line. Barber had moved AJ up to the second string and as of now AJ really didn’t seem to care anymore. The day after McAmmond was traded he had come back to practice and acted like nothing was wrong with him. He played in the next game like nothing was wrong with him also. He had the same energy and the same heart in the game. It amazed Nick that he was able to get over losing one of his friends that quick, but of course that is life in the NHL.
“Hey Nick,” Brian says skating up and stopping in front of him.
“Hey,” Nick says adjusting his helmet on his head.
“How do you feel about a triathlon?”
“What?”
“Well a few of the guys and me are going to run in a triathlon in three days. We were wondering if you wanted to join us.”
“What are the three events?”
“Running, biking and kayaking. C’mon it’s gonna be fun.”
“Whose gonna be in it?”
“Me of course, Kevin, AJ, Williams, Therein, Tocchet, Boosh, Fedetenko and Fedoruk. I think that’s it no wait LeClaire might do it too.”
“I dunno. I’m not that good at that stuff.”
“It doesn’t matter all the money goes to the Flyer’s wives fight for lives charity, God that’s a mouthful.”
“Alright,” Nick sighs, “What is first?”
“Oh well we gotta run first, kayaking next and then we get to bike ride.”
“Sounds like a lot of work.”
“It’s fun I did it last year too.”
“Alright. I guess that means I need to start working out more.”
“More? You work out more then any of us.”
“You can run with me if you want. We need partners.”
“Really? It’s ok with you?”
“Yeah, it’s fine man. Alright good. I have a partner now,” Brian smiles.
“You didn’t have one before?”
“No, AJ TOOK MINE,” he yells as AJ waves at him from beside a net, “ Me and Boosh were supposed to be partners. Like goalie with goalie, but AJ is his partner now. I think Boosh feels bad about what happened to McAmmond. Therein is with Kevin. Williams is with Tocchet. Fedetenko and Fedoruk are together. LeClaire? I dunno what Johnny is doing.”
“Brian are you going to come back and help us in the net any time soon?” Coach Barber asks from across the ice as Brian turns around to look at him.
“Well back to work,” he says to Nick rolling his eyes before skating his small body back over to the other net.
For some reason Nick had a feeling that he was going to end up hurting himself at the triathlon.
Article from the Philadelphia Inquire
Sports fans of the Philadelphia Flyers are being called to make donations for a triathlon being held today for the Flyers Wives Fight for Lives Charity. The three events will be comprised of running, kayaking and riding bikes. The distance covered will be close to seven miles and the people competing in this event will be local towns people and Philadelphia Flyer players. Some of the players competing will be captain Kevin Richardson back from time off for his knee to heal, Chris Therein, Justin Williams, Rick Tocchet, AJ McLean, Brian Boucher, Brian Littrell, Nick Carter, Ruslan Fedetenko and Todd Fedoruk. Fans are expected to be lining the streets cheering the participants on and without a doubt they will get a show from some of the players especially AJ McLean. The event kicks off at eleven o’clock this morning and we hope to see you there.
“Why do I think I am going to hurt myself?” Nick asks Brian as they stand on the street waiting for the gun to sound starting the race.
“I dunno. Think positive,” Brian says jumping up and down.
“You’re going to be hot,” Justin says to Nick.
“Huh?”
“You’re t-shirt. I would take it off,” he says as Nick notices out of all the players on the team running he is the only one in a t-shirt.
“I’ll take it off if I get hot,” Nick says as AJ and Boosh walk up.
“He’s got the socks on,” AJ yells pulling Justin into a headlock.
“Leave me socks alone,” Justin says referring to his white knee socks that he has on with his shorts.
“It’s hard to miss ya Williams,” Kevin says, “You’re the guy in the white knee socks and the silver shorts.”
“Hahaha,” Williams rolls his eyes as the others smirk as the gun sounds and they all run off down the road.
After they all set their pace to one they like the clutter of guys together starts to thin out.
“Where is Williams going?” Nick asks Brian.
“I have no idea,” Brian says as he watches Williams who is running in front of them turn a corner, “I’m not gonna be the one to say anything to him that’s all I know. You ok?”
“Yeah fine.”
“Ok cause we’re almost to the shore, so that will give your legs a rest in the kayak.”
“Thank God,” Nick says as they continue running down the road to the shore.
“Damn,” Brian says as they reach the shore and see AJ and Brian already out on the water.
“They aren’t gonna make it far,” Nick says grabbing his kayak and taking it into the water
“Where’s Williams?” Brian asks Tocchet as he pulls his kayak into the water getting in.
“I have no idea,” Tocchet says as Williams runs down the road up to the shore, “Where were you?”
“I took a wrong turn,” Williams says as he pushes his kayak into the water and helping Rick with his. Have you guys seen Kev and Therein?”
“Up there,” Brian points down stream as him and Nick take off in their kayaks.
“See I told you they wouldn’t make it far,” Nick says as they reach AJ and Boosh who are hitting each other with the oars.
“Guys stop it,” Brian says as AJ gets hit tipping the kayak over and he goes under before rolling back over and coming up again.
“Oh you’re gonna pay for that,” AJ says to Boosh and Boosh takes off down the river with AJ after him.
Nick turns around to see Williams and Tocchet who are cracking up, “They’re getting closer.”
“Well lets put on the jets then,” Brian smiles as he takes off down stream in his kayak with Nick close behind.
As the two of them get closer to shore they see AJ and Brian getting out of their kayaks and trying to pull them to shore. Of course by doing this the two of them only succeeded in making each other fall over shoving each other here and there. They get the kayaks on the shore and take of running down to where the bikes are leaving a trail of water where ever they go.
“C’mon almost there,” Brian says as they reach shore and he hopes off his kayak falling into the water laughing at himself before pulling his kayak onto the shore.
“Kevin and Therein were already here,” Nick says as he pulls his kayak onto shore.
“Yeah, stupid over achievers,” Brian smiles before taking off down the road.
“You’re one to talk,” Nick smiles.
The two of them reach the bikes and get on their separate bikes before taking off down the road. They take off down a hill as they catch a pack of people with AJ and Boosh in the lead.
“I am a golden god! You hear me McLean,” Williams says as he passes the crowd and heads into the lead.
“I’ll get you Williams! You and your socks!” AJ yells as he catches up to Williams.
“Whoa! Whoa! What the hell is this?” Boosh says as Kevin and Therein come out from a side road taking the lead and peddling like mad men to the finish line.
“Cheaters,” Williams yells picking up the pace along with AJ, Boosh and Tocchet trying to catch them.
“Where did they come from,” Nick looks at Brian.
“I have no idea.”
“They’re not gonna catch them though,” Nick says as Kevin and Therein cross the finish line with AJ, Boosh, Williams then Tocchet behind them.
“Where did you guys come from,” Brian asks riding his bike up to where the others are standing with Nick.
“Cheaters,” Williams says again.
“We got lost,” Kevin laughs.
“We went way off course,” Therein says, “A cop showed us how to get back on the road.”
“We did stop and rest a little though,” Kevin says, “We got water ice and then continued on the bikes.”
“You got water ice?” Boosh asks, “You losers. You win and you get a water ice break.”
“I want water ice,” Fedoruk says.
“AJ? Brian? Why are you all wet?” Kevin asks them.
“He hit me in the head with an oar while we were kayaking,” AJ says.
“But he was your partner.”
“I know.”
“Then I feel n the water trying to get the kayak onto shore,” Boosh says.
“Hey out of all the losers we are the best, Boosh,” AJ says putting an arm around Boosh’s neck as Boosh nods in agreement.
“Someone bury me right here,” Fedoruk says lying on the ground and stretching out, “Williams where did you run off to? We saw you turn a corner you weren’t supposed to.”
“How come no one told me that?” Williams asks sitting down opening a water bottle, “I ended up getting lost on the way to the shore. A cop told me how to get there and I got back on the route.”
“Ha see we weren’t the only ones who got lost,” Kevin says.
“Kevin, shutup,” Williams says putting on sunglasses and leaning back like Fedoruk.
“Remind me to never do this again,” Nick says lying down next to Williams.
“Only if you do the same for me,” Williams says holding up a hand.
“Deal,” Nick says shaking his hand as the two of them stay on the ground.
“Slackers,” AJ says.
“SHUT UP AJ!” they both yell before closing their eyes.
“Yes I know some of you are sore after yesterdays triathlon,” Coach Barber says, “But you need to keep up in practice today. If Primeau can play in a twenty four hour game and still be able to skate the next day, so can you guys.”
“Excuse me sir, but Primeau isn’t human. He’s Keith,” AJ says skating over to the bench and sitting down.
“McLean your line is on.”
“Damnit, I was hoping he wouldn’t notice,” AJ mumbles before getting off the bench and heading over to his position.
“Hey Williams your fan club is here,” Kevin says and motions towards the bleachers.
Williams turns around and makes a face before skating away down to the other end of the ice. There was a group of girls gathered on the bleachers watching practice. Nick looks at them and then back at the guys who were busy making fun of Williams as he starts to blush slightly. They were hockey groupies. Bands had groupies and so did certain sports. These girls would stand around outside by the cars waiting for guys to come out and some knew enough people that they were allowed in to watch practice. Most of them liked Williams, but now they were being to follow around AJ as well as himself. AJ said he hated the attention because he would rather get a girl at some place like a sports bar then here. Nick didn’t like the attention period. He just wanted to play and practice.
Nick looks over as Fedoruk shoots a puck at the Plexiglas and it hits it making a huge boom sound that echoes through the arena. A group of the girls who were gathered around the glass jump as Fedoruk, Williams and AJ crack up falling to the ice laughing before Barber goes over to them yelling at them.
“Don’t trust them,” Kevin says to Nick from beside him.
“Huh?”
“The girls. Yeah they’re pretty and willing to do things, but they seriously mess you up. Find a girl somewhere else like AJ does. You never know if they’re here because of you or because they actually really like the game.”
“Alright,” Nick says, “How are your kids and wife?”
“Good,” Kevin smiles, “I come home for a day or two and they jump all over me. They’re like monkeys.”
“How’s the knee.”
“Surprisingly good. They told me to try out skating at practice and see how it holds up after I get a few hits then I maybe able to go back to games.”
“I don’t think the coach likes me.”
“Barber?”
“Yeah.”
“I hate to tell you this, but Barber actually likes Boosh and AJ and he treats them like shit. What do you expect when it comes to guys like us?”
“Less yelling in my ear.”
“Welcome to the pros Carter,” Kevin smiles and heads back out to his position.
“It sure does have nice arenas though,” Nick says to himself before skating back to his position.
~Yes it is true the Flyers did really parcipate in a triatholn. Yes Justin Williams really got lost on his way to the shore. Yes he really did wear the infamous white knee socks *I love them*. Yes Therein really did get very lost and came out of no where at the end of the race. The rest is basically made up though.~
