Chapter 5: Daddy's Name on the Wall

The bus had rolled home from Bemidji after the Friday game, and by Saturday morning skate at Ingram Arena the whole team was on the ice.

Brody Hanratty was in a mood.

He had been in one since Tuesday.

Ty lined up at the blue line with his stick across his knees.

He was waiting for Coach to blow the whistle for the drill.

Brody drifted up beside him and spoke without turning his head.

"Big game tonight, Prince. You think Daddy bought you the first line?"

A few guys at the boards laughed.

Ty kept his eyes forward.

"Got his name on the wall over our heads," Brody went on, louder. "Seems like you'd never have to try."

The laughing stopped. Coach was on the far side of the ice, talking to a trainer.

Lars was ten feet away, tightening his glove.

He did not look up.

Ty understood why. It was rule two, and it was his own rule too.

It still hit him somewhere under the ribs.

Then he turned his head and looked at Brody for the first time.

"My father paid for the building," he said, evenly. "He didn't pay for my legs."

"Sure."

"Blue line to the far goal line and back. You and me."

"What?"

"Winner carries the pucks to every practice until the playoffs."

Cullen Pratt let out a whoop from the net. "Oh, it's on."

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