Tane had a long and distinguished career. But Jacob felt like he was part of the new generation of player who was able to have as much fun off the ice as he was on it. Jacob wanted the freedom to express himself exactly how he wanted – and there was no way he was going to allow a tired old veteran player to push him around.
Jacob was determined that he wasn’t going to fold and allow Tane to totally assert his authority over him – either on the ice or off it.
I’ve spent too long getting here.
I’ll have fun if that’s what I want.
No big old grump is telling me otherwise…
But as much as Tane Rivers was on Jacob’s mind, the most important thing in that moment was the upcoming game against The Blasters.
“Ok Blade, let’s do this,” Jacob said, readying himself to go through his time honored pre-game ritual.
Jacob took his childhood teddy bear Blade out of his Gucci backpack and gave it a kiss on his forehead, his nose, and then on his soft, furry tummy.
“Three kisses for you, Blade,” Jacob giggled. “And now three for me too, please!”
With that, Jacob helped Blade return the favor and kiss him three times.
Jacob wasn’t normally the most superstitious player, but his pre-game ritual was something that had stretched all the way back to his first championship final as a youth player. It had worked all those years ago and was now a cast-iron part of Jacob’s routine.
“Tonight’s going to be a good night,” Jacob said, taking a big breath and allowing the excitement of game night to swell up within him. “It’s time to show the world what I can do. And if I can keep Tane Rivers warming the bench even longer, then I’ll take that as a bonus too.”
With his mind focused and the adrenalin beginning to pump over his body, Jacob carefully packed Blade back inside his backpack and then got out of his two seater sportscar.
There was no one in the stadium yet, but soon enough it would be packed with thousands of Enforcers fans, all there to cheer on their team to another victory – and Jacob was determined that it would behisname they would be singing the loudest.
* * *
“Rebrov, I’m open!” Jacob called out, his voice barely audible over the home supporters as they roared the team on. “Rebrov! Play me innow!”
Alex Rebrov glided over the ice in the smooth, ultra-elegant style that was his trademark and duly passed the puck toward Jacob.
Jacob was through, one on one with the goalie.
Many players panicked in these situations. Lesser players than Jacob would lose their composure, feel hurried, and make a total rush job of the shot.
But this was Jacob Gosling.
Jacob was a player who played off instinct and natura self-belief.
“Yeah! Hell yeah!” Jacob hollered, deftly passing the puck into the back of the goal and skating around the rear of the goal to soak in the adoration of the home supporters. “Jacob Gosling is in the house!”
“A thank you wouldn’t go amiss,” Alex Rebrov said, a sour look on his face as Jacob skated past him. “I could have taken the shot myself.”
“Hey, relax, I’ve got this,” Jacob said, continuing to play up for the crowd.
This pattern continued. Jacob was enjoying himself on the ice, and The Blasters truly were taking the kind of beating that not many commentators would have predicted beforehand.
Three goals for Jacob later, and the Enforcers were up by four goals to two.
But the party was brought to an abrupt end for Jacob at the beginning of the third period. To Jacob’s dismay, he was replaced. But worse than that, Jacob was taken off to make way for Tane Rivers…
“Now we’re talking,” Alex said, high fiving with Tane Rivers as he took to the ice.
“Let’s fucking go!” Connor added, a streak of dried blood under his eyes as a result of one bone crunching collision earlier on.
Jacob watched and listened as the crowd went wild for the returning hero. Jacob knew that replacements were part and parcel of the game, but he never enjoyed being taken off – especially if his replacement happened to be the team captain and a legend of the game.
