Christian "Magic" Magdziuk is a minor league hockey player with dreams of heading to the NHL someday, and he'll do whatever it takes to make that dream come true. So he only plays with the Richmond Rebels for one short season before he asks to be traded to the Bedford Blizzard, a farm team for the American Hockey League where he might get a little more notice from scouts.<br><br>His attitude on the ice left him few friends among the Rebels ... that is, until teammate Ronnie took a liking to him. One thing led to another and the two men became lovers during the time Christian played with the team. But when he transferred to the Blizzard, he left the Rebels -- and Ronnie -- behind.<br><br>Now it's the first game of a new season, and he's facing off against his former teammates in the season opener. But does something still smolder between Christian and Ronnie after all this time?

Playing the Field: Faceoff

As a senior player on the Rebels,Ronnie had more pull than mostof the others on the team.No one complained when he began inviting Christian along after practices,and the coach changed up the rooming arrangements so the two men could bunk together while on the road.The other players began to relax around Christian—it was always hard fitting in with an established group,but Ronnie’s friendship made it easier to be accepted,and soon his teammates began to appreciate Christian’s skills on the ice.By the time they played their first away game,against the Portsmouth Patriots,Christian began to feel the camaraderie that had always seemed just out of reach.


Chapter 7