The next season for the Boston Blackhawks was about to begin. After a pretty impressive first year, the team only strengthened, gaining more superstar power. Tyler Marchand's buddy and best friend from the Boston College (BC) Eagles, Patrick Cleary had been picked up in Free Agency and Fiyero Milan, the great BC captain was snatched as well.

Along with those two, Smitty and Zilchy were also grabbed in the Draft. Zack Greene and Brady Quinn were traded. And two prospects named Razor and Drouin who shined in the NHL last year when injuries occurred were awarded one-year contracts. A forward named Reilly O'Reilly was also scooped up, coming in from the San Jose Shruingers and then there was one certain Russian forward from Tampa Bay who was traded.

Scooby remained the starting goalie and was joined by two other goalies. One was a Russian and one was an American.

After the quick pre-season scrimmage with everyone reuniting with one another, Crow entered the locker room, shedding his equipment, literally everywhere as he stormed to his stall. Jonathan was behind him.

"Crow, chill man, so you fanned on a shot at the blue line and you can't seem to buy a goal...relax."

"Relax? I'm fine with my mediocre practice day, I'll get over that...But we have two Russians named Nikita!" Crow slammed his helmet onto the shelf of his stall and then sat down looking at his captain. "How is that okay?"

"Well, Crow, Russians aren't that bad. And Nikita Namestnikov is an excellent power skater and goal scorer for us. And you know you love Nikita Nichushkin."

"Hey, did Scooby break the pest or what?" Jeremy laughed, entering the locker room, followed by Brampton and everyone else.

"No. Shut up Segs!" Crow spat at him.

Nikita Nichushkin and Nikita Namestnikov came forward and sat down on either side of Crow. "It be okay. We like you Crow."

Crow snapped his head back and forth, looking between the two Russian forwards, who smiled at him sweetly. He looked back at Jonathan, who was biting his lip and struggling not to break out in laughter. Crow frowned at him and rolled his eyes. "Russians..." He shook his head.

Jeremy and Percy joined up, their stalls being adjacent to one another. They shared a secret handshake with one another. Unlike Crow, they'd tore it up in practice. Like usual. Nothing was new there.

"I'm so ready for this season to start already!!" Jeremy exclaimed.

"I know, it's been a super long and boring offseason. Just full of charity work, hanging with family, doing endorsements and then suffering in silence while hearing all about the San Jose Shruingers enjoying the Cup!" Percy sighed.

Jeremy rolled his eyes. "We'll get 'em this year!! This is the year of the Boston Blackhawks!"

"You better believe it!" Jonathan echoed. "Now let's get our break...we got the big opening game coming up, let's show the fans that Boston is ready to play!"

He was answered by cheers all around the locker room.

****

Percy's POV

The first game of the new NHL season began. The puck was dropped at center ice, where Jonathan, Percy's linemate and the captain won the puck and instantly got it back to the defenseman. Opposite Percy, on the left wing, was Tyler.

Percy darted forward with his linemates and moved into an open spot. He received the perfect pass from his defensemen. He cradled it in his stick, batting it back and forth in a taunting way as one of the opposing team players bared down on him. He spun around at the last minute, managing to smoothly keep the small black disc in his blade. Then he got it to his backhand and sent a beautifully timed and placed puck over the goalie's shoulder and into the back of the net.

"Ha!" Percy laughed to himself as he rounded the goal and smashed into the boards. Scoring was nothing new to him and neither were his slick moves and hands.

"Way to go Kaner!" Jonathan shouted, wrapping him up in a huge hug and patting his head. "Once again you and your sick hands and goal scoring never cease to amaze me!"

Percy couldn't help but smile and be excited as he was soon joined by the other players on the ice, including Tyler.

"Sick hands Perce!" Crow chirped him as he skated by the bench and fist bumped his equally happy teammates.

For the rest of the game, Percy was on fire and feeling super confident. He led the Blackhawks to a win and also had his first goal as well as the most shots on goal. Percy really felt like he could do anything. He could score, make plays...and also gain some fans... As soon as the lamp was lit for his second goal of the game, which came from a sick one-on-one breakaway chance, he noticed the loud applause and the sweet sound of women screaming his name. He couldn't help but showboat his success.

"SHOWTIME!!" Percy howled as he whipped around to the boards, dropping low and scooping his hand around as though scooping up ice off the surface of the rink. He then jumped up on his skates to scream again before he was tackled by his linemates.

"You're on fire Percy!" Tyler commented.

"Nice pass man!" Percy complimented Jonathan, who was seriously stokked about Percy's success.

Jonathan shook his head, unwilling to get all the credit. It was one of the perks of Jonathan Getzlaf and it was what made him a leader and the right choice for captain for the team. "Sick goal. Again. As Tyler said, you really are on fire tonight!"

They took off to the bench once more. Percy sat down, earning all kinds of fist bumps, pats and praise from the coaching staff and his teammates. It was close to being in Heaven. He was enjoying the NHL so far and he knew that he could only be better.

And the more he scored and entertained the more fans he gained. He was rapidly becoming one of the faces of the team and one of the most popular guys for sure!

****

Jeremy's POV

The first game of the new NHL season began. Jeremy saw the puck drop at center ice, where Jonathan, Percy's set linemate won the puck and instantly got it back to the defenseman. Opposite Percy, on the left wing, was Tyler. Jeremy, himself, was on a line with his shy friend in Brampton Benn and the sweet, innocent and little bit shy Russian, Nikita Nichushkin.

Crow, Patrick Cleary, Fiyero Milan made up the third line and the fourth line was Smitty, Reilly O'Reilly and then Zilchy and Nikita Namestnikov. As the game went on, the lines shifted slightly, Nikita Namestnikov moved to Crow's spot and Crow was put on the fourth line...the grittier pesky like. Nikita had better offensive numbers and speed, so he fit in better with Patrick Cleary and Fiyero.

Jeremy watched as his friend, Percy darted forward with his linemates and moved into an open spot. He received the perfect pass from his defensemen. He cradled it in his stick, batting it back and forth in a taunting way as one of the opposing team players bared down on him. He spun around at the last minute, managing to smoothly keep the small black disc in his blade. Then he got it to his backhand and sent a beautifully timed and placed puck over the goalie's shoulder and into the back of the net.

Jeremy instantly sprang up on the bench and turned to Brampton and Nikita, who were excitedly jumping up and down and shouting. He joined them and even screamed, "WAY TO GO PERCY!! ATTA BOY!!"

He watched Percy round the goal and smash into the boards. He could see the blond laughing and smiling. Jeremy couldn't help but smile along with him and be as excited as him as Percy was soon joined by the other players on the ice, including Tyler.

Jeremy looked at the other team, curious to see their reactions. The defenseman that Percy had deked was stunned and in awe. It was almost like Percy's skills were shocking to him. Well, Jeremy knew that he'd also have to beware of him as well. Jeremy had a wicked slapshot, full of accuracy and power.

"Sick hands Perce!" Jeremy heard Crow chirp Percy as he skated by the bench and fist bumped his equally happy teammates.

"Good goal, way to go Kaner!" Jeremy exclaimed, rather softly to his friend. He rarely spoke silently, but Percy's skills were raw and to be honest, he had blown him away too. Jeremy didn't have the same slick, soft hands that Percy had...or the wicked backhander. Percy was unique from Jeremy, sure they were both entertaining and offensive goal scoring hounds, but they were also very different.

For the rest of the game, Jeremy was in awe as Percy was on fire and feeling super confident. He tried to go out and feed on the confidence and play, but his line wasn't as good as the first line. At first. Then Nikita, Brampton and Jeremy blossomed and Jeremy some action and a few close, quality chances.

Sure Percy ended up leading the Blackhawks to a win and owned the most shots on goal. Jeremy registered some shots and close chances...and sure, he had a point on an assist to Nikita Nichushkin's tip-in goal but he knew Percy had been the better player of the night. Coach Julian had been so impressed with him, so much so that he also gave Percy more ice time than planned.

During the third period however, things changed after a nice pep talk and some words specifically for him from the captain. Jeremy hit the ice with his linemates, won the faceoff battle and worked hard to get the puck to his teammate in Brampton. Suddenly things began to click as the second line poured on some speed and skill and maintained offensive zone time for the Blackhawks.

And sure enough within seconds of each shot, Percy had three goals in two minutes.

As they keep the puck in the zone and worked it around, Jeremy used his vision and set up in an open slot to the left side of the goal. Before he knew it, the puck came to him and he wound up and sent it sailing toward the goal. And it went in!

Suddenly, Jeremy really felt like he could do anything just like Percy. He could score, make plays...and also gain some fans... As soon as the lamp was lit for his goal of the game, he noticed the loud applause and the sweet sound of women screaming his name just like they'd done for Percy's goals. He couldn't help but showboat his success, he flashed the crowd his signature movie star smile and wink and milked the ladies in the audience before jumping up on his skates and screaming, "WOOO!!" before he was tackled by his linemates.

"You're on fire now Jeremy! What confidence!" Nikita commented with his thick Russian accent. "You score big goal!"

"Nice pass man, couldn't-a done it without you, Nichy!" Jeremy complimented the Russian, who smiled innocently.

"Woo!" Nikita yelled.

"Woo!" Jeremy returned the scream to him.

"Goofballs!" Brampton shook his head, smiling at them.

They took off to the bench once more. Jeremy sat down, earning all kinds of fist bumps, pats and praise from the coaching staff and his teammates just like Percy had received. It was close to being in Heaven. He was enjoying the NHL so far and he knew that he could only be better.

And the more he scored and entertained the more fans he gained. He was rapidly becoming one of the faces of the team and one of the most popular guys for sure! Jeremy, Percy and all of the Blackhawks were soon taking the NHL by storm once again and the fan base grew. Within the first month of the new season, the Boston Blackhawks were popular in Boston and running the league crazy and the goal scorers were on fire and scaring goalies on all the other teams. This was going to be a fun year for the Boston Blackhawks and it was only one game of eighty-six.