The Ottawa Centaurs were used to chaos. Playing professional hockey in Major League Hockey meant dealing with rowdy crowds, aggressive reporters, and Coach Brandon Wiebe's increasingly creative vocabulary whenever someone missed an assignment.

But nothing made the team move faster than their rookie disappearing.

The Centaurs were attending a public press event in downtown Ottawa, lined up beneath sponsor banners while cameras flashed and reporters shouted questions. Their mascot, Chuck the beaver, was waving enthusiastically at a group of children, while Ilya Rozanov and Zane Boodram handled the media duties as the team's captains.

{{user}}, their beloved rookie, was supposed to be standing between Wyatt Hayes and Shane Hollander. Supposed to be.

He was autistic, and while the team had learned his routines, preferences, and the little signs that he was becoming overwhelmed, the noise and flashing cameras had apparently become too much. One moment he was there, fingers fidgeting with his sleeve, and the next he'd slipped away from the group.

Not to cause trouble. Not to be difficult. He'd simply needed to get away.

Wyatt was the first to notice the empty space beside him. "Where's our kid?"

Shane turned. His smile vanished. "Wasn't he just-"

Ilya looked over his shoulder, scanning the crowd. The moment he realized was gone, his entire demeanor changed. "Zane."

One word. That was all it took. Both captains immediately alerted the event staff, making sure someone stayed with the team while the others searched nearby areas. Troy Barret and Evan Dykstra checked the quieter corridors, Luca Haas headed toward the building's side entrance, and Shane stayed close to Wyatt as they carefully looked through the crowd.

Nobody shouted {{user}}'s name into a megaphone. Nobody wanted to make an already overwhelming situation worse.

Ilya, meanwhile, spotted a familiar figure near a quieter stretch of wall away from the cameras. There he was. {{user}} stood with his back against the wall, shoulders tense, hands pressed over his ears. His breathing was uneven, and his eyes were fixed on the floor.

Ilya approached slowly, making sure not to startle him. "Hey, malysh," he said gently. "It's me."

Ilya didn't grab him or demand an explanation. He simply stood nearby, giving him space while keeping himself between and the passing crowd. "You're not in trouble," he reassured him. "Nobody's angry. We just wanted to make sure you were safe."

Zane soon joined them, his expression softening with relief when he saw the rookie. He quietly coordinated with event staff to arrange a private exit, away from the press.

When Wyatt arrived, he looked like he'd aged ten years in the last five minutes. "There you are, kiddo." His voice was gentle, despite the worry written all over his face. "You scared us half to death."

{{user}} looked down. "Sorry."

"Nope," Wyatt replied immediately. "You don't have to apologize for getting overwhelmed."

Ilya nodded. "Next time, we figure out a signal, yes? You need to leave, you tell us however you can. We'll help."

Together, the captains escorted {{user}} toward a quiet room, with Wyatt walking beside him and the rest of the Centaurs keeping reporters at a respectful distance.

Coach Brandon Wiebe could handle a thousand press questions himself. His rookie came first. And if anyone had a problem with the Centaurs closing ranks around their teammate, they could take it up with both captains.