"Hi I'm Val Nichushkin!!"

The camera pans around and there is Right Winger for the Dallas Stars Valeri Nichushkin sitting there in the middle of the locker room. The twenty-one year old has a lot to look forward to in the NHL, and he is going to complete these goals with his trusting "parents" Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin leading him down the path of stardom.

"I am Val Nichushkin. I play for the Stars, but I have a huge decision to make."

Tyler and Jamie smile at their little "Baby Russian" and start to laugh at him. Val still struggles with learning English, but he tries the best he can to go day by day and get along with his teammates.

"Last year, I had hip surgery. It went okay, but I no feel right yet," Val started to frown in the blank room with only the camera in it, "Я хочу домой! (I want to go home!)" He wailed out, not knowing what was going to happen next.

"Hey Val, everything alright with you lately?" Captain Jamie Benn questions him.

"Yeah. I good. Have a lot on mind," Val quickly looks away and fights off the tears.

Jamie plants a fake smile on his face, not sure what's going on with the young Russian.

"Hi my name is Jamie Benn, and I am the Captain of the Dallas Stars. These past few seasons have been an emotional roller coaster for me, both good and bad. I met the love of my life, Tyler Seguin, I was named Captain, I had hip surgery, and both Tyler and I are watching over Valeri Nichushkin as if he was our own son. Lately, Val's been acting off. Most of the time, Val hangs out with Tyler and I after games and no matter what, we goof off by playing video games or just watching television."

Jamie looks away from the camera, unsure of what's going on and why they offered him a spot on this insane reality show, "I just want the old Baby Russian back."

Jamie nods at Val back in the locker room, "Ready to crush the Preds tonight and move on to the playoffs?"

Tyler Seguin blurts out, "Hell yeah! Let's get ready to rumble!!!!"

"Hi, I'm Tyler Seguin and I play hockey with the Dallas Stars. I am so happy to be here and exploring this awesome season with my boyfriend, Jamie Benn, and our 'son'," as he uses air quotes to describe the situation, "Valeri Nichushkin. I just love them so much!!!"

Coach Lindy Ruff walks into the locker room, and starts to yell, "Quit filming the reality TV series bulls@$#! VAL, in my office, NOW!!"

Val hides his head the best that he can, and wonders what Coach Ruff has to say to him now. Coach Ruff is normally a very kind, thoughtful man, but he absolutely despises Russians for some odd reason. Maybe it's because he can't trust or understand him, but whatever the case may be, this seems to be an interesting turn for Val.

Tyler whispers over to Jamie as he laces up his skate, "What do you think Ruff's telling Val??"

"I hope this time it's good news. Ever since Val came back, Ruff has been a little harsh on him. I just wish he kept his own captain in the loop...."

Val comes out of the office, but his face is cherry red. The game against the Preds hasn't even started yet but he looks like he just ran a mile! He sulks over to his locker, and Tyler and Jamie glance over.

Meanwhile in the Preds Locker Room

"Pekka, you ready for tonight against the Stars??"

Pekka Rinne looks up and nods at his captain, Shea Weber, and finishes adjusting his goalie gear.

"Hi, I am Pekka Rinne. I am the 'Rinne Wall' for those of you who don't know me. Lately, I have been going through a rough time. I am trying to adjust to not having anything or anyone to anchor on to back in Finland. My fiance broke up with me about eighteen months ago, and a lot of people have attempted to get me back up on my feet. However, none of those attempts have worked."

The camera then pans on the Finnish goaltender getting ready to lead his team onto the ice against their opponents. The Nashville Predators and the Dallas Stars charge onto the ice, ready to battle one another in their last regular season game before the road to the Stanley Cup began.

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The Stars ended up winning 3-2, and the camera shows each team traveling off the ice. Both teams put on a really great showing and each has their own separate momentum about heading into the playoffs and leaving as victors.

Val has a smile on, but it quickly dissipates as he walks with Jamie and Tyler to their car. Jamie and Tyler walk up to the car, open the trunk so they can put their gameday duffle bags in there along with Val's gear. Then, all three of them enter the car with Jamie as the driver, Tyler in the passenger seat, and Val in the backseat.

"What's on your mind, Val?" Jamie asks him as he starts the drive back to their home.

Val looks at them, "It nothing. I miss my Mom and sister."

Tyler reaches behind him and grabs his hand and reassures him, "You played well tonight. You made your Mom and your sister so proud of you!"

Val then looks down, trying to fight off the tears with a smile, "You are right, Tyler."

"What they don't understand is that Coach is being mean to me. He pushes me, which is not bad, but I can't go as fast anymore. Ruff never worked well with any other Russian. Why does he single us out?"

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Meanwhile, Pekka storms off the ice, knowing that there were some key saves that he goofed up. The problem was that his ex-fiancee's image haunted him as the game played on. That trend is not something new, however, because Pekka deals with the aftermath of the breakup everyday.

"Every time I'm in the zone, it's like I can't even focus without her face popping up in my mind. She's....I hate admitting this, but I needed her. Now, she's gone with another man. But she took away the one thing that mattered to me: my heart."

Pekka follows Shea Weber and Carter Hutton onto the bus so they can head back to the hotel for a long rest. Once he arrives in his hotel room, he turned on his phone.

Immediately, one of his good friends in Nashville set up another blind date for the goalie. Pekka sighed, and Carter followed him in the hotel room.

"She looks pretty, Pekka. Did Max set you up on another blind date??"

"Unfortunately, but I promised him I would go on one before the playoffs began."

Carter gets ready to get some sleep, and the white room with Pekka inside of it comes to life on the screen.

"My good friend, Max, attempts to set me up on these blind dates. This will be....date number thirteen?? They always fail, and I told him I would give him one last shot. Hopefully, this goes well."

He shrugs and is not really sure what to expect.  

Back in the hotel room, Pekka slowly dozes off and prepares for the long road ahead of him in the playoffs.  

END OF PART 1

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Well, here is Part One of the first episode!!!  I am so excited to share this with you all, and I hope to update the next part sometime this week.  The video above describes the "white room" all of the inner thoughts of the players take place.  

Enjoy!!

-Kay Lynn