Between The Pipes: A Hockey Story Of Courage, Control, And The Game Within (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9798274267410)

A YA hockey novel about fear, focus, and belonging.

Seventeen-year-old Cole Ducharme was born to guard the net. But after one mistake cost his team the championship, his shaking hands made him a viral joke and a ghost in his own crease. Now, on a tense road-trip season with the Norcrest Wolves, every shot tests more than his reflexes-it tests his mind.

As pressure builds, Cole must learn that control isn't perfection-it's trust, and that courage means breathing through the noise, not erasing it. With the help of a hard-edged coach, a too-honest teammate, and the quiet rhythm of skates on ice, he discovers that sometimes the hardest save isn't the puck-it's himself.

A powerful coming-of-age story for fans of Beartown, Check, Please! and Friday Night Lights, this novel blends sports realism, mental-health insight, and lyrical YA storytelling.

Includes:

• Glossary of hockey terms for new readers
  
• Teacher & coach discussion guide with reflection questions
  
• Author's note on real breath-control techniques used by goalies