Chapter 9 - GARRETT

Summary

Garrett Graham leads Briar University’s hockey team against St. Anthony’s, absorbing a brutal hit from rival player Greg Braxton before Tucker scores and Logan delivers a key defensive play. The team takes a two-goal lead into the locker room, where Coach Jensen criticizes Dean and Renaud for poor positioning but praises the required physicality. Garrett reflects bitterly on his distant relationship with his father, Phil Graham, who watches from the stands and later waits in the parking lot to offer only a perfunctory nod after the game. In the third period, Garrett scores the winning goal with assistance from Logan, Tucker, and Birdie, securing a 3-0 shutout. During the locker room celebration, Logan asks Garrett about Hannah’s relationship status, sparking unexpected unease in Garrett as he recalls her singing voice. After the game, Garrett boards the bus away from his father, acknowledging that failing his Ethics exam will jeopardize his eligibility despite his outward indifference to Phil’s approval.

Characters

• Garrett Graham / Garrett — Plays center for Briar against St. Anthony’s, absorbs a bone-jarring hit from Braxton, and scores the game-winning one-timer. He reflects bitterly on his strained relationship with his father, feels unexpected unease when Logan asks about Hannah, and worries that failing his Ethics exam will jeopardize his eligibility despite claiming indifference to his father's opinion.
• Greg Braxton / Braxton — The St. Anthony’s forward uses his size and speed to take three penalties, delivers a brutal hit into the plexi, and engages in a physical battle behind Briar’s net before being outmaneuvered by Logan.
• Tucker / Tuck — Scores a wrist shot goal, assists on the winning play by deking out the goalie, and sympathetically examines the bruise forming on Garrett’s side after the game.
• Coach Jensen / Jensen — Demands physical defense from his players during the locker room debrief, criticizes Dean and Renaud for poor positioning, and acknowledges the team’s shutout victory with improved spirits after the third period.
• Dean / Di Laurentis — A Briar defenseman who gets tossed around by Braxton during play and receives sharp criticism from Coach Jensen for failing to shadow opposing forwards.
• Renaud — A sophomore defenseman who allows two breakaways and is reprimanded by the coach for delivering weak hip checks instead of full physical hits.
• Phil Graham / Phil — Watches Briar’s game from the bleachers in a Rangers cap, waits in the parking lot post-game, and offers only a brief nod to his son after a win, maintaining a cold and routine-driven dynamic that leaves Garrett feeling like a mere extension of himself.
• Birdie — A senior Briar defenseman who moves quickly down the ice, flips a pass to Tucker during an odd-man rush, and helps secure the shutout victory.
• Kenny Simms / Simms — The Briar goalie who faces relentless pressure from St. Anthony’s forwards throughout the third period but maintains the shutout.
• Hollis — A Briar teammate who scrambles to defend behind the net, helping to hold off St. Anthony’s starting line during the final period.
• Hannah / Wellsy — Logan asks Garrett if she is single and if he is sleeping with her, prompting Garrett to feel unexpected possessiveness while recalling how her singing gave him chills.