Timberwolf Hunt by Sigmund Brouwer Page A

is gone, we have a new coach who just moved to Howling. I heard his son plays hockey too.”
    â€œRight,” Johnny said. “His son is Eldridge Elwell.”
    Just then, a new kid walked into the dressing room with his hockey bag.
    â€œHi,” the new kid said. He was not too tall and not too short. Not too fat and not too skinny. He had dark hair. He also had a shy smile. “My name is Eldridge. My dad is the new coach. He is going to be here in a few minutes. He just had to park his truck.”

    â€œHi,” Johnny said to the new kid. “Glad you’re here. I need your help.”
    â€œSure,” Eldridge said. “What is it?”
    â€œWell,” Johnny said, “I’ve got a bat trapped under this bucket. Can you keep it trapped while I go get Mr. Gregg? He is in charge of the arena.”
    â€œYes,” Eldridge said, “I’ll help.”
    â€œGood,” Johnny said. “Hold this stick and press it hard against the bucket.”

Chapter Two
Don’t Make the Coach Mad!
    â€œEldridge,” Coach Elwell said. He had just walked into the room. “What are you doing?”
    Coach Elwell was a big man. His head was half bald. He had a moustache. He was wearing a suit and a tie. It was the first time the players had seen him. He was Coach Smith’s new boss. Coach Elwell was going to be their coach for four weeks while Coach Smith was on vacation. Coach Smith never wore a suit and a tie. Coach Smith would be back for playoffs.
    â€œI’m holding this bucket up against the ceiling,” Eldridge said. “If I let go, it—”
    â€œI can see you’re pushing a stick up against a bucket,” Coach Elwell said. He had a big voice to match his bigsize. “Didn’t I tell you that the first thing you needed to do was fill the water bottles?”
    â€œYes, but—”
    â€œDon’t make excuses,” Coach Elwell said. “I expect you to listen to me. Now put that hockey stick down right away.”
    â€œYes, but—”
    â€œYoung man, I just said I expect you to listen to me.”
    â€œExcuse me,” Johnny said to Coach Elwell. “I can explain.”
    â€œDid I ask you to interrupt?” Coach Elwell said to Johnny. “All of you should learn right now that I don’t like to be interrupted.”
    â€œYes,” Johnny said, “but you should let us help Eldridge with the bucket or—”
    â€œEnough,” Coach Elwell said to Johnny. “Or you will be benched for the whole game. Players don’t tell coaches what to do.”
    Johnny didn’t say another word. He did not want to be benched.
    All of the other players were quiet too. Coach Elwell was big. Coach Elwell had a big voice.
    Coach Elwell looked at Eldridge. Eldridge was still pushing the bucket against the ceiling. “Put that down this minute!”
    â€œBut if I let go of the stick—”
    â€œWhen will you learn that I don’t like back talk?” Coach Elwell said. “Players don’t tell coaches what to do. Sons don’t tell fathers what to do.”
    He stepped right up to Eldridge.
    â€œI want you to fill the water bottles,” Coach Elwell said to Eldridge. He put his hand on the hockey stick. “Do it now!”
    Eldridge held on tight to the hockey stick. “But—”
    â€œEnough!” Coach Elwell said. He yanked the stick from Eldridge’s hands. The bucket at the top of the stick fell from the ceiling. It landed on Coach Elwell’s head.

    It made a clunking sound on his skull. It fit over his head like a helmet. The water soaked his suit and tie.
    The room was very quiet.
    Except for Johnny Maverick. He remembered what Scooby-Doo would say when something like this happened.
    â€œRuh-Roh!” Johnny Maverick said in his best Scooby-Doo voice.
    Stu and Tom giggled. Coach Elwell had a bucket over his head. He was still holding the hockey stick. His