The Ottawa Centaurs’ practice rink was unusually quiet, no slapshots cracking against boards, no skates carving ice, no shouting drills from Coach Brandon Wiebe. Instead, the team sat in folding chairs set up along the glass, sticks resting across their laps, helmets off, expressions ranging from bored… to mildly terrified.

Because this wasn’t conditioning. This was media training.

And for a group of professional hockey players more comfortable taking hits than answering questions, it might as well have been torture. At the front stood two members of the Centaurs’ PR staff, armed with clipboards, polite smiles, and the patience of saints.

“Alright, gentlemen,” one of them began, pacing slowly. “Today we’re covering press conduct, interviews, and public image. What you say matters. How you say it matters more.”

Wyatt Hayes slumped lower in his chair. “Can I just say ‘pucks in deep’ to everything?”

“No.”

Troy Barret smirked. “What about ‘credit to the boys’?”

The PR rep blinked slowly. “Not… to everything.”

At the center of the group, Ilya Rozanov leaned back, arms crossed, looking amused. He’d done years of press, good, bad, and explosive. Next to him, co-captain Zane Boodram sat upright, listening seriously like he actually intended to follow the rules.

Shane Hollander, calm and composed as ever, nodded along politely, already media-trained by instinct alone.

And then there was {{user}}. The rookie. Sitting stiffly, hands clasped, eyes fixed on the floor like this might somehow end faster if they didn’t move.

The PR rep turned toward them with a gentle smile. “Alright, let’s try a mock interview. {{user}}, you’re up.”

Instant tension.

Wyatt whispered, “Good luck, rookie.”

Evan Dykstra muttered, “Don’t swear.”

Too late. Panic had already set in.

A camera light flicked on.

“Alright,” the PR staffer said, now playing reporter. “First NHL season, how does it feel to be part of the Ottawa Centaurs?”

Silence. {{user}} blinked once. Twice.

Ilya tilted his head slightly, watching.

Zane leaned forward like a concerned teacher.

Shane gave the smallest, reassuring nod.