When I get back to the locker room, I can’t sit still. Throwing my stick and gloves into my cubby, I pace around the Black Diamonds logo that rests in the middle of the carpet.
“You good?” Nick asks.
“Ready for the game to start.”
“Might as well sit down. We still have thirty minutes before it starts.”
“Right.”
I plop down next to him, blowing out a breath.
My legs bounce as I do my best to calm my excited nerves as we tick closer and closer to the puck drop.
Before I know it, Coach Barney is walking into the locker room in his always pristine suit.
“Alright, gentlemen. I know we’re all excited to get out there and see our newest banner in the rafters, but there’s a lot more than just celebrating tonight. Tonight, we start a new season. Fresh slate. I know the pressure that the outside noise can put on a team. But I want you to shut that out. I wanteach and every man in here to focus on your game. To play together as ateam. That’s what I want. It’s a long season, and I want to go out there and start it off on the right foot. Let everyone talk. I know what our team can do. Now go out there and show me what you’re made of.”
“Hell, yeah!” Cash shouts. He corrals the team to the middle of the locker room. “Let’s go out there and give our fans a show tonight! Black Diamonds on three. One, two…”
“Black Diamonds!” everyone yells.
Fuck. Yes.
I follow the other players out of the locker room as Troy—our captain—claps each of us on the helmet as we go.
When the team is announced, the crowd noise from earlier is nothing compared to now. It’s fucking electric. It’s a wave of blue in the stands as everyone sports the team colors. The lights are low as a video from last year’s season starts. It’s hard not to get pumped up when they’re showing our highlights.
By the time they get to the part with the team lifting the Cup, the arena could break sound records with the noise pulsing inside.
The lights come up and the banner for last year’s Stanley Cup is unveiled. Damn. I see these banners everywhere we play. It’s nothing new.
But this is the first time I’ve been a part of one. To have contributed to the team winning it. And fuck, it feels amazing.
After the anthem is sung, Coach Barney calls us all back to the bench before the puck drop.
“Alright, gentlemen. I know it’s cool to see that, but we need to put that behind us. Focus on our game. Focus on Anaheim. They are a good team, but I want to show them we’re better.”
I take my seat on the bench as the game starts. It gives me a chance to let my excitement settle and check out how the other team is playing.
No matter how much film we study, there’s nothing like seeing our opponent in action.
It’s clear Anaheim is good, but watching Cash and Troy work together? They are unstoppable as they move down the ice. Their stickhandling skills are unmatched.
Anaheim’s goalie blocks a shot before their offense take it down the ice.
“Paddack. You’re up.”
Waiting until our guy is off the ice, I hop over the boards and start flying, skates crunching under me. Nick is ready for them and blocks the shot on goal with ease.
I can’t marvel at his skill because I’m neck and neck with Cash as we head toward our zone.
Troy is there with the puck, firing it to me. Pulling my stick back, I shoot it at the goal. Anaheim’s goalie easily blocks it, but I get the rebound. With Cash getting into position, I pass it to him and he is able to sneak it by the goalie, hitting the back of the net.
The horn sounds and the lamp lights up as the crowd erupts.
“Way to go, man!” I skate over and congratulate him.
“Great assist.”
