The Big Puck

The good news is I was recently named head coach of the Portsmouth Whalers hockey team, the youngest coach in the NHL for their newest expansion team.

The bad news? Brace yourself. I wish I had when I found out my half-brother just took his life. When I got up off the floor I also found out he left me with a mountain of debt—and his baby daughter.

Even though my Aunt Hildie promises to come live with me in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, to help me take care of the kid, she won't be coming until after her hip surgery.

The upshot: I show up on the first day of pre-season training camp in a dented up old Jeep with a stroller full of trouble. Lucky for me—and luckier for the kid—the sister of one of my players is at the rink and she offers to help me out.

She's a little young and a little crazy, but it's only for a month. What could go wrong?

She's laid-back and I'm an in-charge type. (Read: I'm grumpy and she's sunshine.) She loves kids and I don't know what to do with the little girl. She teaches me. My girlfriend objects . . .

Contains mature themes.