Something So Right (Something So 1)

They do exactly what I thought they would do, pulling the goalie. There are two men more than us. We set it up as a box, each of us trying to knock it out of the zone.

The seconds count down. Thirty seconds left. When they finally get called for offside, sending their bench on the attack for the ref. The coach is almost on the ice, yelling at the linesman, wanting a review, but the refs stand by the guy’s decision. I’m not going to stand here and argue. Their bench calls a time-out. Worse mistake to do is to have us relax and catch out breaths.

I skate to the ice and Coach looks over at us. “Stone, do your thing.” Our coach knows that even if he dragged out that white board making plays for us, we aren’t looking at shit. The plays are all going on in our head.

“Boys, we have thirty fucking seconds out there. Lots of time left. Enough for them to tie it up and win this fucker. So let’s go out there and fucking stop them. They are in our building. In front of our families. Let’s make ‘em proud, boys.” I pull the helmet back down, snapping the strap closed. “I’m too old for this shit.” And with that, I skate away, ready to take the face-off and raise that cup over my head.

The face-off is just outside our zone, their net still empty. The game not won yet. I lean in, waiting for that puck to drop, and when it does I’m ready. I send it to my defenseman behind me, all eyes on me. No one sees the rookie waiting for the pass all alone. One pass is all it takes, and with that shot, he nails it into the net from center ice, claiming the victory. It’s going to be a feeling he will never ever forget. The gloves fly off his hands, stick thrown aside. Everyone skates to him. I look up. Still twenty seconds left. Not enough time to do anything, so I look over and smile at my girl.

Fuck, it’s good to win.

When the twenty seconds are done, the ice is littered with sticks, gloves, hats, helmets, confetti paper falling from the ceiling. My play-off beard is dripping with sweat and water.

Once we congratulate everyone, new baseball hats are passed around. I look over to see the Stanley Cup being brought onto the ice.

I’m ushered over to take an interview. Always captain first.

“Cooper, we have to say a huge congratulations out there tonight. They are saying the better team won. What is going through your mind?”

I lean down to hear him because it’s still so loud.

“It was an even game, we played hard, they played hard, we got lucky, but we’ll take it,” I say, pushing my sleeves up over my elbow pads.

“This is your fourth time winning. Does it get better each time or are you used to it?” He laughs.

“I have to say it’s better each and every time. I don’t think anyone can get used to this.” I laugh at him.

“So what’s next?” he asks, and I know what I’m going to say next will shock everyone.

“Well, besides the obvious answer that I’m taking my kids to Disney World. But as most of you know, my contract is up this year. And after being in this organization since they drafted me when I was eighteen, I have to say that I’m hanging up these skates.” With that, the crowd gasps and cheers. “I’m going to marry my girl and just be home.” I laugh because I’m fucking happy. The only one who knew about my decision was Scott.

“Well, I’m sorry to see you go, but this is the best way to go.” With that, I skate away and begin to skate to center ice where the commissioner has taken his spot with his microphone.

While he goes on and on about hockey and the game, my eyes land on the seat where my family is supposed to be sitting. I see no one but Meghan and Tom. I look around till I see all the family members ready to come onto the ice.

I see my girl rubbing the tears away from her face with my boy holding his mother’s shoulder, and Allison on the other side of him.

I don’t hear anything he says till he says, “Captain, it’s time to claim your cup.” And with that, I skate over and lift it over my head and skate around the arena one more time before I hand it off. The next person I hand it off to is Anderson, because if it wasn’t for him between the pipes, we wouldn’t have made it this far.

Once I hand it off to him, I skate over to where the family is and open the doors so everyone is allowed to find their loved ones.