[FIC] (Hockey) Still My Team
Title: Still My Team
Rating: G
Character: Markus Naslund (VAN)
Disclaimer: I don't claim the characters mentioned in the story. It's not true. That is all.
Challenge: hockey_fc's #2 - Losing
Author's Note: Not beta-ed, just yeah.
They say athletes don't read the newspaper, don't listen to the radio shows, don't watch news regarding to their team or them. But Markus Naslund would know that it isn't true.
Especially when you live in Vancouver.
A polite applause for a win. A public hearing when you lose.
How could he avoid anything hockey when he lived in a city where the only thing they cared about was hockey? Impossible. Everywhere he turned there was news about the Canucks - walking down the streets, buying groceries, taking his kids out to the parks, whatever it might be.
So when he heard that his captaincy was a risk, his ears perked up. He was pretty sure that his place was safe; he would still be the captain for the upcoming season. If not, who else would be the captain? Not to be cocky or arrogant, but he really couldn't think who else would take the C. Mo? Matty? Probably not at the moment. But then the guy who was supposed to be in line was Jovo and he left. And he didn’t think they wanted to risk another Trevor Linden - Mark Messier situation, abide it was an entirely different situation, but the media jumped all over that too whenever the question of who was going to get the C was brought up.
But in the back of his mind, he knew there was a possibility after what happened last season. It was ridiculous the way the season ended. Not so much disgusted anymore, but definitely disappointed. The locker room was a mess and there was nothing he could do to fix it. He remembered that he was thinking he couldn't wait for the season to end.
Markus really didn't know what he would do if he lost the C. He's already lost his best friend (and the rest of his friends who he had been with for so long). Maybe he shouldn't have resigned with the team. Maybe he should have just stayed in Sweden.
Markus finally met the new coach. He had heard of him off course, as the guy was the coach of the Moose. But Markus never really met the guy. They caught each other's eyes and his coach motioned Markus to his office.
"This is going to be quick. I think you know that I am going to ask you already."
Markus nodded numbly, not bothering to take a seat when the chairs were right in front of him. He stood right beside the door instead.
"I'm sure that you heard the whispers about the captain of the Canucks this year."
Markus nodded again.
"Well. I just want to let you know that the C is yours," he paused. "Unless you don't want it anymore or you think that someone else is more appropriate for this job."
"No, no. Uh, I think I'm good. I would love to continue to be the captain of this team."
"Good, good," he walked over to where Markus was and opened the door. "I hope you weren't paying attention to those rumours. The spot’s always been yours. I can't think of anybody else that would be more suited for it than you."
Markus was relieved to hear those words coming out of his coach’s mouth. Yeah, he knew that the C was going to be there this season, but it was still nice to hear the confirmation. And put those stupid doubters to rest, he laughed silently. “Thanks coach, uh, I’ll get back out there now.”
He scanned the room to see his old teammates, along with his new ones, all getting ready to step on the ice.
This is still my team, he thought, and it’s going to be an interesting season.
Rating: G
Character: Markus Naslund (VAN)
Disclaimer: I don't claim the characters mentioned in the story. It's not true. That is all.
Challenge: hockey_fc's #2 - Losing
Author's Note: Not beta-ed, just yeah.
They say athletes don't read the newspaper, don't listen to the radio shows, don't watch news regarding to their team or them. But Markus Naslund would know that it isn't true.
Especially when you live in Vancouver.
A polite applause for a win. A public hearing when you lose.
How could he avoid anything hockey when he lived in a city where the only thing they cared about was hockey? Impossible. Everywhere he turned there was news about the Canucks - walking down the streets, buying groceries, taking his kids out to the parks, whatever it might be.
So when he heard that his captaincy was a risk, his ears perked up. He was pretty sure that his place was safe; he would still be the captain for the upcoming season. If not, who else would be the captain? Not to be cocky or arrogant, but he really couldn't think who else would take the C. Mo? Matty? Probably not at the moment. But then the guy who was supposed to be in line was Jovo and he left. And he didn’t think they wanted to risk another Trevor Linden - Mark Messier situation, abide it was an entirely different situation, but the media jumped all over that too whenever the question of who was going to get the C was brought up.
But in the back of his mind, he knew there was a possibility after what happened last season. It was ridiculous the way the season ended. Not so much disgusted anymore, but definitely disappointed. The locker room was a mess and there was nothing he could do to fix it. He remembered that he was thinking he couldn't wait for the season to end.
Markus really didn't know what he would do if he lost the C. He's already lost his best friend (and the rest of his friends who he had been with for so long). Maybe he shouldn't have resigned with the team. Maybe he should have just stayed in Sweden.
Markus finally met the new coach. He had heard of him off course, as the guy was the coach of the Moose. But Markus never really met the guy. They caught each other's eyes and his coach motioned Markus to his office.
"This is going to be quick. I think you know that I am going to ask you already."
Markus nodded numbly, not bothering to take a seat when the chairs were right in front of him. He stood right beside the door instead.
"I'm sure that you heard the whispers about the captain of the Canucks this year."
Markus nodded again.
"Well. I just want to let you know that the C is yours," he paused. "Unless you don't want it anymore or you think that someone else is more appropriate for this job."
"No, no. Uh, I think I'm good. I would love to continue to be the captain of this team."
"Good, good," he walked over to where Markus was and opened the door. "I hope you weren't paying attention to those rumours. The spot’s always been yours. I can't think of anybody else that would be more suited for it than you."
Markus was relieved to hear those words coming out of his coach’s mouth. Yeah, he knew that the C was going to be there this season, but it was still nice to hear the confirmation. And put those stupid doubters to rest, he laughed silently. “Thanks coach, uh, I’ll get back out there now.”
He scanned the room to see his old teammates, along with his new ones, all getting ready to step on the ice.
This is still my team, he thought, and it’s going to be an interesting season.