Alex and Connor had been here almost as many times as Tane had, and Tane knew that the pair of them would keep fighting until the end. Both Alex and Connor had looks of puredetermination on their faces. These were two players who could always be relied on to do the jersey proud.
However a couple of the younger guys were wearing the look of rookies who weren’t sure how to handle the situation.
A nervous crowd.
One furious coach.
This was hardly the best environment to bring home the title for players who hadn’t been there and done it as often as the veterans on the team. Tane knew that something needed to be said, and it needed to be said soon.
Tane clenched his jaw and waited for the right moment. But then something hit him. Perhaps it wasn’t him who needed to speak. Maybe in this moment there was another option. A better option…
These guys need to hear it from one of their own.
They’re talented, but they’re green.
My boy needs to speak to them…
In a flash of inspiration, Tane whispered into Jacob’s ear and told him to skate around to the rookie players and tell them that they were in it together. Jacob nodded and did exactly as Tane commanded.
So with the words of Coach Tremaine ringing in their ears – but with their own minds focused individually too – the whole team skated back onto the ice ready for one final push toward a season defining victory.
The game continued at a furious pace and to their credit the Enforcers fans came out in full voice and began to roar theirsupport at a volume that was ear-splittingly high even by their standards.
And this galvanized the players. There was still nothing between the teams, but somehow there was a tangible sense that the Enforcers were getting on top of the Lynxes.
It would only take a moment. But it would need a true clutch player to step up and make it happen.
“Tane, I’m open,” Alex shouted, his voice barely audible over the crowd’s renewed energy.
Tane wasted no time in firing the puck across toward Alex.
However at the last moment, Alex was bodychecked by an opposition player and the puck ricocheted over toward Jacob.
Tane watched as Jacob powered toward goal, only for his shot to be saved by the goalie’s cat-like reflexes.
The Lynxes now had the puck and began a counterattack, every single person in the stadium knowing that the next goal was almost certainly going to win the game – and no one more so than Tane himself.
I ain’t going out like this.
I know I won’t go on forever.
But today is going to be my day…
With that, Tane tracked back and in combination with Connor regained control of the puck. Jacob and Alex both made darts ahead of him, but suddenly Tane found himself clean through on goal and bearing down on the Lynxes’ legendary goalie.
Time almost felt like it came to a standstill. Tane felt a sensation that he hadn’t experienced in a long time. He was skating without pain, without fear of injury. He was in the zone, the special flow-state that he’d found countless times over his career.
Despite the chaos around him, everything was calm as Tane bore down on the Lynxes’ goalie.
For me.
For the boy.
For the Enforcers!
Tane pulled his stick back and struck the puck so cleanly that it was like a heat seeking missile headed for the back of the goal. The goalie stood no chance as the net rippled and the Enforcers sealed yet another title as the buzzer blasted and sent the crowd into raptures.
Tane barely had a second to contemplate what he had done. The sound of the buzzer ringing in his ears, Tane was mobbed by his teammates as the stadium chanted his name once more.
