Davis unzipped his hockey bag, stared into the black canvas void, and blinked.

"Dude."

The locker room paused. Laces stopped mid-pull.

"Dude, where are my skates?"

"What do you mean, where are your skates?" came the reply from across the bench. "You had your bag in your trunk."

"Yeah, but where are my skates?"

"Check under your breezers, dude."

Davis threw his elbow pads across the floor. He dug past three rolls of half-used clear tape, a dried-up puck, and a singular, crusty skate guard. Nothing with blades.

"Dude, they're not here."

"Well, where’s your car?"

"It’s parked outside, dude!"

"Then go check your car, dude!"

Ten minutes before puck drop, Davis sprinted through the freezing arena parking lot in his hockey socks, hit the key fob, and tore open the tailgate. He searched the back seat. He searched the passenger seat. He opened the glove compartment, stared at a handful of expired registration slips, and whispered, "Dude..."

He charged back into the locker room, chest heaving, tape flapping off his shins.

"Dude, no skates. Are you sure I didn't leave them by the bench?"

"Davis, you walked in here carrying an eighty-pound bag. How do you remember your stick, your helmet, a cracked visor, and two left gloves, but forget the literal things you need to touch the ice?"

Davis just stared at his left sock with the hole in the toe, defeated, slowly realizing his ice time tonight would be spent running the door and operating the penalty box latch.

"Dude."

"Sweet."

After a couple of tough losses, the Diesels were licking their chops at the matchup this week against the Escorts.  1st period was an absolute slaughter at the hands of the Black and Yellow.  4 goals that started early in the first by Rosen and continued from there with super sub Tim A., and Mike E. doubling up.  Escorts were lucky it was only 4-0 after 1, but somehow the pep talk at intermission got them going.  2nd period for the Diesels was a little flat as they let Ryan Zack get going and let him skate at will.  They get 2 goals to sniff a comeback, but then Cody accepted the challenge to keep things out of reach.  With just over a minute left in the game and the Escorts pulling the goalie, Tim A. wins a crucial draw in the defensive zone that allows Rosen to chip and chase out of the zone and bury the empty netter and put the dagger in it!  Big thanks to Tim for subbing!