Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 74782 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 374(@200wpm)___ 299(@250wpm)___ 249(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74782 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 374(@200wpm)___ 299(@250wpm)___ 249(@300wpm)
None of that would have occurred had my mom not agreed to my stepdad’s wishes to send me north. He didn’t want me in the house, and while it burned that my mom bent to his will, I wanted out too. The only regret was leaving Janelle behind, but she was five years old and there was nothing I could do.
Almost a week ago is when I had my really shitty game, after which Baden called me out. While I didn’t like hearing some of what he said, it all rang true. Since that time, I’ve focused more on the joy of hockey, and I have to admit, I’ve been playing and practicing better.
It might have also helped that Janelle and I have progressed a bit in our relationship. We’ve had some good talks. She’s much happier working at Clarke’s store, and she’s ecstatic about staying with Veronica when I travel. That first test will come in a few days when we have a trip to Los Angeles.
Regardless, I’m on the ice now, and my defensive play this entire game has been on point. My focus is keen, I’m reading my linemates easily, and I seem to be one step ahead of the opposing forwards.
It’s the kind of focus that has me inching closer to the blue line with Bain as all the forwards jam up around center ice. We’re playing the Washington Breakers, second in their division, a real powerhouse to contend with. They currently have the puck, trying to make it into our zone without an offside call, and just as one player dumps it to another to skate in, I manage to poke check it away.
A mass of players still swirl at center ice, but none of my line mates are close enough to pick up the puck, so I burst forward and put my stick on it. I dodge back and forth across center ice, no clear pass available. Seeing my intent to take it into the opposing team’s zone myself, my mates wait at the blue line, letting me lead the puck over it first.
All of this happens so quickly, I’m only met by two Breaker defenders. I move up the left side, that defenseman coming to meet me. I cut inward, and as soon as he moves to counter, I cut back hard left and easily circle around him.
The other defender has moved in, placing himself between me and the goal. The other guy I just left in the dust comes up behind me, and they close in.
The space between them is small, and I’d need to breach it to get a clear shot at the goal. I take a quick accounting of who is around me, and no one is close enough to dump it to. Commitment made, I push hard off my skate and crash through the two men while feathering the puck in between our skates. I’m caught by a hip check and I start to fall forward, but at least my path to the goal is clear.
As I’m going down, I manage a desperate wrist shot that at first I think is too weak to do much, but to my surprise zips right under the goalie’s arm and hits the back of the net.
I’m crashing to the ice as the red light goes off and the crowd erupts in a roar of approval.
Euphoria sweeps through me, and I’m scrambling up from the ice, looking for my nearest teammates. Doesn’t take long because they’re all there, slamming into me for a huge huddle where I get pats on the helmet and sticks tapped against my legs. Someone smacks my ass hard, but I barely feel it through the pads.
Defensemen don’t score often. I’m usually good for five goals or so and thirty to forty assists in a year. So when I do score, and this is only my second this season, it’s cause for celebration.
With Kane, Jett, Jim, and Bain grinning at me like fools, I feel like a true part of this team. It’s probably time to make that a permanent thing.
The rest of the game is a hard-fought battle. I remain focused and diligent, and I play fantastic fucking defense. We end up squeaking out a 2–1 win over the Breakers, and everyone is in high spirits as we enter the locker room after.
There’s much joviality—rehashing great plays, crude jokes, and general revelry. At our locker cubbies, we undress so we can head to the showers.
“Riggs, dude,” Kane says as I’m unlacing my skates. “That move you made crashing through those two defenders was epic. It’ll be on the highlight reels.”
I grin, focusing on my task. “If you lazy asses had caught up, it would’ve been much easier to dump it to one of you.”
There are guffaws and snorts, and one “bite me” from Jett.