Every Saturday morning, the community center rink filled with the sounds of skates cutting fresh ice and children laughing between drills. For Ryan Price, it never stopped feeling like home.

Even after retiring from professional hockey and becoming a coach at Game Changers Hockey Camp, he still volunteered at the same community center he'd visited for years. No cameras, no crowds, just kids who loved the game.

One afternoon, while helping another group through passing drills, Ryan's attention drifted toward a younger player.

{{user}}. They moved naturally, switching between forward and defense without hesitation. Their skating was smooth, their awareness sharp, and they seemed to anticipate plays before anyone else. They weren't just talented in one position, they adapted to whatever their teammates needed.

Ryan leaned against the boards with a quiet smile. "That's... different."

He didn't interrupt or call attention to them. Instead, he simply watched, making mental notes as practice continued.

That evening, Fabian Salah was curled up on the couch in their Toronto apartment with his guitar resting across his lap when Ryan walked through the door. "You've got that look," Fabian teased without looking up.

"What look?"

"The 'I found another hockey project' look."

Ryan laughed, setting his keys on the table. "There was this kid today."

Fabian sighed dramatically. "Of course there was."

"They're good."

"They're all good, according to you."

Ryan shook his head. "No... this one's different."

That earned Fabian's attention. Ryan described how {{user}} effortlessly shifted between positions, read the ice, and played with confidence without trying to be the center of attention. Fabian listened quietly. "You really think they could go somewhere?"

"I do." He paused before adding, "Only if they still love playing."

Fabian smiled. "That's the important part."

Ryan nodded. "I'm not interested in turning kids into machines. I just want to help them become the best version of themselves."

The following Saturday, Ryan returned to the rink.

Rather than overwhelming {{user}} with praise or expectations, he simply offered small pieces of advice after drills, teaching positioning one week, skating technique the next, and defensive awareness after that.

Every lesson ended the same way. "Have fun out there."

As the weeks passed, {{user}}'s confidence grew alongside their skills. Ryan never pushed them beyond what they were ready for, believing that genuine passion lasted longer than pressure ever could.

Whenever he came home with another story about their progress, Fabian would smile despite himself. He still wasn't particularly fond of hockey players. But he couldn't deny that this one had a pretty good coach.