The whistle blows.Line change.
I skate to the bench, keeping my face carefully neutral even though every movement sends shockwaves of agony through my thigh.Cade shoots me a look, but I shake my head before he can say anything.
Not now.Not in front of Coach.
The final minutes tick down.Neither team can break the tie.
Overtime.
“Cross, you're starting OT,” Coach announces.“Bright, Morrison, you're with him.Defense, stick with the pairing that's been working.”
I should tell him.Should admit that something's wrong, that I might be a liability out there, but this is overtime.This is everything, and I'll be damned if I let my team down now.
We line up for the opening faceoff.My thigh is screaming, the muscle seizing with every small movement, but I lock it down.Mind over matter.That's what got me here.That's what's going to get me through this.
The puck drops.
I win the draw, but barely.Then I send it back to our defenseman.He carries it up, looking for an opening.
SoCo's defense is tight.They're playing for the tie now, content to drag this to a shootout.
Not on my watch.
I drive toward the net, calling for the puck.Their center tries to body check me, but I slip past—favoring my good leg more than I should—and position myself in the slot.
The pass comes.
I one time it.
The puck sails wide.
I miss.
Fuck.
We regroup.Dash makes a huge save on the other end and sends the puck back our way.
Two minutes into OT.Then three.Then four.
Every stride is agony.Every pivot, every turn, every moment of pressure on that left leg feels like someone's driving a spike through the muscle, but I don't stop.Can't stop.
Cade picks up the puck in the neutral zone, dangling past one defender, then another.I see the opening before he does—a gap on the left side, just enough space to slip through.
I cut toward the net, my bad leg protesting with every push.Their goalie is tracking Cade, doesn't see me coming.
Cade's pass is perfect.
I don't think.Don't hesitate.Just shoot.
The puck hits the back of the net.
Goal.
The arena explodes.
My teammates pour over the boards, mobbing me at center ice.Cade crashes into me first, nearly knocking me over, and I have to lock my knees to stay upright.
“Fuck yes!”He's screaming.“That's my captain!”
