By Jamie Moelis

With just over eight minutes remaining in the second period, Assistant Coach Ken Deming motioned over the referee and signaled a time out.

The short, overweight referee blew his whistle at center ice, and the Delaware Blue Hens and the University of Pennsylvania Quakers scattered to their respective benches, both a little confused.

“Listen ladies,” Coach Deming said. “We’ve been on the other side of the spectrum, and it sucks. Let’s not be that team who runs up the score. From now on, you can only score if your name is Jenn. If anyone else even attempts to shoot at the Penn goalie, you will be benched for the remainder of the game.”

The ref again blew his whistle, waving for both teams to assemble back at the center ice face-off circle, where 2 large navy and red letter P’s were painted.

“Jenn, hop out their with Katie’s line,” said Coach Deming.

Jenn, Katie, Olivia, Liz, and Sarah, otherwise known as the green line, jumped over the boards and skated to the center ice-circle.

“I really hope Jenn can play on our line next shift,” said Sophomore Danielle Marten. “I want her to net one so badly!”

The entire Blue Hen bench was rooting for Jenn, along with the 50 other Delaware fans in the Class of 1923 Arena.

Jenn slowly wobbled to the right side of the face-off circle and got ready for the draw. She didn’t think she’d get any playing this game and was very nervous that she would do something wrong.

The plan of attack was for Center Katie Smith to win back the face-off, skate the puck up into the Quaker zone, and then set Jenn up with a perfect pass as she posts up in front of the Quaker goaltender. If all went according to plan all number 16 in yellow would have to do is guide the black biscuit into the net with her worn-out chipped and rusted Nike Bauer composite stick.

The referee bent down, dropped the puck, and scooted out of the way. Katie won the face-off cleanly back to Liz on defense and Liz skated the puck up, deked around one of the Quaker defensemen, and looked in front of the net to pass to Jenn. But number 16 was face down on the ice. One of the Quaker girls had illegally crosschecked her. Thankfully she barely felt the hit since she’s covered with layers of equipment.

“Hey! Where’s the penalty on that one?” asked Coach Ken.

The whistle blew as soon number 19 on white, the perpetrator, touched the puck. The Hens were on the power play.

“Hey Jenn, stay out there,” said Coach Ken.

Coach Deming said he wanted the same five girls to remain on the ice for the power play.

“Jenn skate to the net and look for my pass,” said Katie.

The ref blew his whistle, dropped the puck, and again Katie won the face-off cleanly back to Liz. Liz looked around, saw an open lane, and passed it to Freshman Olivia Tarca who was down in the left corner. Olivia, an exceptional skater, pranced around 2 Quaker girls and passed the puck directly to Jenn’s stick where she was wide open in front of the net.

“Shoot Jenn, shoot!” said Coach Ken.

The entire Hens bench jumped up, thinking Jenn had scored her first ever goal in her first ever hockey game.

“She’s got this, she’s got this!” said Daniele.

The team, the fans, and Jenn’s parents were all cheering. Jenn spontaneously decided to switch over from competitive figure skating to hockey this year and was doubtful she would even make the squad. With a team like the University of Pennsylvania, Captain Sarah Berkley knew it was a great game for an inexperienced player like Jenn to get some ice time and hopefully score a goal.

Ding.

The puck rang right off the left post and the Quakers dumped the puck out of the zone.

Jenn, smiling and laughing, skated back to the bench.

“Tomorrow you’re shooting 150 pucks,” said Coach Ken. “I would have kept you out there the whole time, but I figured you may need a second or two to breathe.”

Jenn didn’t even know Olivia’s pass was coming to her. She was just standing in front of the net and happened to have her stick out in the right spot. She was a little disappointed in herself that she hit the post though.

“Sorry coach!” said Jenn.

The buzzer sounded and the scoreboard read 8 Delaware, 1 Pennsylvania. The Hens headed into their locker room, and the coaches awarded the game hat to the player of the game, Jenn Bruskin.

Sporting her new pink, glittery hat Jenn felt special and honored to be so warmly welcomed and accepted on her new team.