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it’s the way they chose to wear each other’s jerseys, the way they chose to post that edit reel, the way they chose to plaster themselves so close together on the ice, the way they chose to match for two halloweens in a row and a team christmas party, the way they chose to put their initials together for an account name like teenage girls giggling at a sleepover, the way they chose to be known as the unit they are.

the unique rightness of “willandmack” being said in the same breath doesn’t come from awestruck announcers or their pr managers’ keen eyes or the loving gaze of the thousands of fans they’ve accumulated. it comes from will and mack, two souls so closely intertwined that it’s impossible to discern where one ends and one starts, just the way they always intended.

that podcast clip of toff saying they need each other, that clip of colleen smith saying they never get sick of each other, rick celebrini saying will is his son’s release, will saying they just have fun and mack saying robyn is so happy for them to just be having fun, the sharks making sure everyone knows they’re lost without each other and have a connection incomparable to anything else :’)

i can't think of any more interviews of the trio in one room off the top of my head i fear everybody kept them separate 😭 for good reason!! but some foundational clips with them are:

this willgabe masterclass: iihf hockey u18 mens worlds reel

all three discuss their reasons for choosing bc, typical schedules etc: hockey east nhl prospects on campus

will talks briefly about his line following him to bc, typical days and routines: boston college campus tour

a bit more in depth interview of how all three see their chemistry on ice (will saying "lenny's always finding us and we can always find him," leno's "we're never satisfied," and and gabe's "will's really smart and ryan can do it all"...!!!): pre-nhl draft 2023 "best line in junior hockey"

i do think it's interesting to see the changes in the way they presented themselves in their pre bc/during early bc media; where most players seem to break away from their teamates in anticipating the draft, all the interviewers were focused on asking at least one question about their line LMAO and they were happy to provide.

willmack are SO stupid and SO yearning they're like my little court jesters amusing me every time i write them <3

mack, who was maybe a tiny bit “inconsolable” on a random day in february in ricklibrini’s words, not only just because of his fear of letting his country down but because what if this does mean he’s cursed? what if he carries the expectations and hopes and dreams of an entire franchise on his shoulders for nothing, and what if everyone slowly begins to hate him because they never signed up for his life of losing, losing, losing, hurting, over and over again.

what would it mean for will, who has these grand dreams of winning a cup together and putting their jerseys in the rafters. what use would mack ever be to him if he can’t provide the one thing will has ever wanted with every atom of his soul?

so when that rick c call hits will’s phone in boston in the early hours of the morning, maybe mack doesn’t let himself reply for a bit and dodges will’s attempts at comforting him, because he doesn’t deserve it when this is only going to happen over and over again.

maybe he grows over the course of the next few months, though, lets will talk him into letting himself dream again, and then it’s worlds and it’s just a small tournament, it’ll never matter for mack in the long run, but. the things he can do in the future if he only wins this one thing.