Fever Season by Eric Zweig Read Free Book Online Page A

even. Thanks to some great saves by goalie Georges Vézina, the score was still 3–3 at the end of sixty minutes.
    â€œOvertime!” David said excitedly as the two teams switched ends and prepared to break the tie.
    Because he had been on the ice more than anybody, Newsy Lalonde was on the bench when the overtime period began. Amos Arbour, his replacement, lined up to take the faceoff instead.
    Arbour proved faster to the puck than the Quebec centre, but instead of drawing it behind him he pushed it forward. Then he sped ahead to control the loose rubber. He had only taken a few strides forward when Hall came rushing toward him. But Arbour was ready for him. He slipped the puck over to Pitre just before Hall could reach him, and when they collided, it was Bad Joe who fell to the ice.
    The crowd roared its approval and continued to shout as Pitre outraced the other Quebec defenceman along the side boards. Hall scrambled to his feet and chased after Arbour to keep him covered. Another player had Laviolette tied up. With no one to pass to, Pitre cut in toward the net.
    â€œShoot! Shoot!” the crowd cried.
    But Pitre continued to hold on to the puck as he moved across the front of the goal.
    â€œHe’s waiting too long!” David shouted.
    And it seemed that Pitre had … until the Quebec goalie finally moved with him. When he did, Pitre struck instantly, whipping a shot to the far side. The netminder reached out with a padded hand, but he wasn’t fast enough to stop a cannonball.
    The puck bulged the twine in the corner of the net. Pitre had his fourth goal of the night. The Canadiens had won the game!
    But just as the referee was raising his arm to signal the goal, Hall took a swing at Arbour. The young Canadiens player wasn’t even looking. Hall was about to punch Arbour again when Laviolette stepped in his way.
    â€œYou want some, too?” Hall growled, and he reached out to grab Laviolette. Within seconds the other players on the ice had gathered around, pushing and shoving at those on the other team. It took a while for the referees to get things under control, and when they did, a line of policemen formed at the gate to make sure there was no more trouble on the way to the dressing room.
    â€œIt doesn’t require much bravery to hit someone when he isn’t looking,” said the man beside David’s father. “If Hall wants to fight, he should go over to France.”
    But Joe Hall didn’t go to France.
    David’s father did.

C HAPTER 5
    ATTESTATION PAPER
    CANADIAN OVER-SEAS
EXPEDITIONARY FORCE
QUESTIONS TO BE PUT BEFORE
ATTESTATION
    1. What is your name?
    Michael Saifert _______________
    2. In what Town, Township, or Parish,
and in what Country were you born?
    Lodz, Poland _________________
    3. What is the name of your next-of-kin?
    Maude Saifert_(Wife) ___________
    4. What is the address of your next-of-kin?
    1960 Chabot St., Montreal ________
    5. What is the date of your birth?
    Sept. 26, 1879 _________________
    6. What is your Trade or Calling?
    Factory Worker ________________
    7. Are you married?
    Yes _________________________
    8. Do you now belong to the Active
Militia?
    No __________________________
    9. Have you ever served in any Military
Force? If so, state particulars of former service
    No __________________________
    10. Are you willing to be attested to
serve in the Canadian Over-Seas
Expeditionary Force?
    Yes __________________________
    DECLARATION TO BE MADE BY
MAN ON ATTESTATION
    I, Michael Saifert , do solemnly declare that the above are answers made by me to the above questions are true, and that I am willing to fulfill the engagements by me now made, and I hereby engage and agree to serve in the Canadian Over-Seas Expeditionary Force, and to be attached to any arm of the service therein, for the term of one year, or for the remainder of the war now existing between Great Britain and Germany should that be longer than one year.
    Date: August 4,