But our goalie kept us in the game with a great save.
Seconds later, we had possession and were setting up anotherplay…
Duke crashed the net with a shot, causing their goalie to move all the way to the right…
So when the puck bounced off the goalie’s pads, I was able to shoot it easily in the net… giving us the win.
And the crowd went wild.
It felt like just another goal to me… but I’d never heard a stadium quite that loud before.
All the guys in our team box ran out, threw their gloves and sticks up in the air, and pounded into me for a hug….
We won the Stanley Cup.
….But all I could think about was how the hell I’d be able to get through this huge crowd to be with Savannah on time.
I stood there in the confetti anxiously waiting for the Stanley Cup to be presented… I planned on hoisting it up over my head, then hightailing it to the hospital. Maybe I could even ask one of the cops outside the stadium to give me a ride. I did just score the winning goal in the game afterall…
What really kinda sucked though was watching all the guys have their families come down to celebrate on the ice with them. They were part of this success as well… Duke stuck by my side and we took it all in together, and I was extremely grateful for that… but I think we were both missing Savannah.
What made things worse was having to watch a third-liner named Cuddson, aka Cuddsy, get down on one knee and propose to his girlfriend… Little fucker stole my idea.
I reached under my jersey to finger the brand new ring I put on a chain necklace to have ready for her when she came down to celebrate with us… I guess that would have to wait…
After raising the cup over my head for the home crowd– something I dreamed of doing my entire life– I quickly shook hands with all the important officials and then high-tailed it over to Coach.
“I need to get out of here… like right now.”
“What?” he barked. “You’re contractually obligated to stay for the media after this too, son.”
I felt panic rise up in my chest.
“Savannah went into labor. I’ll pay whatever I get fined, but I’m letting you know I’m fuckin leaving rightnow.”
“Damnit,” he muttered. “That’s a good excuse. Wait asec.”
He took out his phone and made a quick call. He blocked his mouth so I couldn’t see or hear a damn thing he was saying.
Duke came up behind me then.
“I’m goin’ too, Coach.”
“No, you’re fuckin not!” he yelled, then went back to muttering into his phone.
Duke’s face fell, but I patted him on the shoulder.
“Come as soon as you can. I’ll keep you updated. It could be a while anyway,” I told him.
“Take the back exit by the locker room. My son-in-law is a cop. He’ll get you there,” Coach muttered.
I felt my mouth drop open. “Thank you, thank you so much, sir.”
He shooed me away. “Hurry your ass up! Blondie needs you.”
I laughed while skating away from the celebration and toward the locker roomdoors.
_______
