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Jack Barrell was rolling his right shoulder as he hopped off the trainer's table and started walking toward his locker. Shirtless, he could see the angry, purpling welt from his peripheral vision as he moved. The trainer had told him he didn't "think" it'd be more than just a nasty bruise. Jack sometimes wished he could get a more informed opinion on his various aches and pains.
He'd hurt the shoulder when he got himself in front of a hard shot by Montreal's newly acquired sharp-shooting winger Rene Mailloux, just acquired from the Transcontinental Hockey Association's Victoria club. At least the Dukes had won the game, though it wasn't easy - the Valiants were improved and by all accounts Jack's club would have a tough time defending their title from both the V's and their perennial foes in Ottawa.
He sighed - the season was barely begun and he was already hurting.
"It's a brave new world, is it not?" came a voice from his left as he moved past the door. The visiting locker room here at the "Woody" as the players called the Montreal Valiants' home arena (technically the Wood Avenue Arena) was cramped.
Jack mostly fought down the urge to frown and turned his head. A reporter. He nodded with as much enthusiasm as he could (it wasn't much) and said, "What brave new world, Reggie?"
Reginald Waters didn't like being called Reggie which simply ensured that everyone called him just that.
To Waters' credit, he shook it off amiably and fell into step with Jack. "All this friendly trading stuff between the leagues."
Jack shrugged and replied, "Ah, peace sells, or something... right?"
Waters was referring to the sudden flurry of trading between the NAHC and its western competitor, the TCHA. The trade winds had blown Cal Oliphant all the way out of Toronto to Vancouver and brought back Charles Rausse in return.
Jack had briefly played with Rausse in the minors before the big centerman had sought greener pastures and signed in Vancouver - before peace broke out. Rausse was good - very good - but Jack and Ben Scheer both were upset that the S.O.B. line was no more. 'R' just didn't fit. So far the newspapermen - like Reggie - hadn't come up with anything pithy for the new-look Toronto Dukes' top line.
"It's only a peace in name... everyone knows this 'we're all friends now' stuff is just to stick it to Jack Connolly," Waters said.
"Is that a question?" Jack asked as he lowered himself onto the stool in front of his locker.
Waters shook his head. "No, that's a statement. What I wanted to ask was what you think of it?"
Jack sighed and turned his hands palm up with a smirk as he replied, "I don't think about it."
Waters cocked an eyebrow. "Don't play dumb with me, Jack. I know you and Oliphant were friends."
Jack nodded. "I won't deny that. But I don't really have an opinion on the bickering between the leagues. Go talk to Bert Thomas about that stuff. He's got opinions on Connolly and the USHA... I can guarantee you that."
Waters wasn't going to be put off so easily. "Indeed he does, and I already have him on record. But I know," and now he leaned in and dropped his voice conspiratorially, "that you met with Connolly back in Toronto."
Jack narrowed his eyes. "What are you getting at, Reggie?" he hissed.
Waters stood up and took a half-step back. "Why, nothing! Just wondering what you talked about with the most hated man in hockey is all..."
Jack tilted his head to one side and said, "I'm sure you could uh... speculate... quite accurately about it, Reggie."
"So no comment?"
Jack gave him a look that he'd used on his brothers when they did or said something spectacularly stupid and said, "Come on. You think I'm going to hang myself? I'm here, right? Not in Buffalo, or New York. Obviously nothing happened. He made a pitch and I turned it down. End of story."
"Mm-hmm. If I talked to Connolly would he give me the same story?"
"Feel free to go to Buffalo and ask him."
Waters chewed his lip. "So... you won't give me anything on this?"
Jack laughed, but it was completely without humor. "Reggie. If you insist, I will tell you exactly what I told Mr. Thomas: Jack Connolly approached me with an offer, for a substantial raise, to play for whichever USHA club I chose."
Reggie was scribbling in his notepad and looked up when he noticed that Jack had stopped speaking. "And...." he prompted.
"And... nothing. I told him no. I don't back out of contracts. I'm a Duke... unless and until they trade me."
Reggie shook his head. "Why do you make my life difficult, Jack?" he asked.
Jack smirked. "All I'm telling you is the truth. And if you want more, I can say that yes, I liked Cal Oliphant - he's a great player and a fine person and will be missed here. And yes too, to Charles Rausse being a solid-gold playmaker who will fill Cal's skates admirably. We'll be a factor this season."
Jack showed his teeth in a not-exactly-friendly smile and asked, "Anything else?"
Reggie shook his head, mumbled something and stalked off.
Jack chuckled, grabbed his towel and headed for the shower.
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