Page 18 of Gamechanger

WHAM!

Coming out of nowhere, Michaels slammed me into the boards. It knocked all the air out of my lungs. With my eyes watering from the impact, I watched the ref's arm rise. He finally called a penalty.

"Need me to kiss it to make it better?" Michaels sneered at me as he skated past on the way to the box.

Something snapped. Without thinking, I was suddenly in his face, shoving him hard. "Back off!"

I found myself slapped with a penalty, too. Coach Fraser glared as I skated to the box.

While the game continued, I slumped forward on the bench. I'd let the goon get to me and throw me off. If I'd stayed calm, we'd have a power play opportunity for a goal.

The words echoed inside my head, igniting all the doubts that plagued me for years. Maybe he was right. Perhaps I was too small for the big league.

When the penalty box door finally opened with five seconds left in the period, I skated onto the ice, trembling slightly. One period down, two to go.

Back in the locker room, I leaned forward as I sat on the bench, cradling my head in my hands. The first period ran through my mind like a nightmarish highlight reel.

While I wallowed in self-pity, a large hand gripped my shoulder. Looking up, I saw Axel's weathered face. His gaze, usually steely and grey, glimmered slightly. Was he concerned about me?

"Hey, kid." He spoke with a grunt and dropped down on the bench beside me. The old wood creaked in protest. "You're letting that oversized knuckle-dragger live rent-free in your noggin. You can't do that."

I opened my mouth to protest, but he raised a hand to cut me off.

"Save it. You know what I'm saying. Playyourgame. I've seen rookies in their first games show more composure on the ice."

The words stung, but he wasn't wrong. I'd lost my focus.

He leaned in close enough that his breath tickled my ear. "Listen close. I'm only gonna say this one time. You have something Michaels will never have—speed that makes him envious as hell."

"Thanks, Axel—"

He cut me off again and poked my chest with a thick finger. "But right now, you're playing his game, not yours. He's got you all twisted up inside your head."

Axel was right. Although I was technically an offensive player, Michaels put me on defense the whole period.

"So here's what you're gonna do." Axel stared into my eyes. "You're gonna get out there and skate circles around that loser. Make him eat your ice shavings the rest of the night. He can't hit what he can't catch, right?"

I nodded. His words lit a new spark of determination in my chest.

Axel had more to say. "And kid, all that garbage he's throwing your way? It's 'cause he's scared of you. He's like a damn playground bully. He only picks on the guys he thinks are a threat."

He stood, and his old joints popped like mini firecrackers. "Now, ditch that self-pity and show 'em what you can do. I didn't sign up with a Portland expansion team to watch a rookie fold like a cheap card table."

As he lumbered off, I sat up straight. His words rattling in my head drowned out Michaels' insults.He's scared of me?On the surface, that sounded a little ridiculous, but the more I thought about it, the more I saw it all from a different perspective. Maybe Axel was right.

While Coach Fraser gave us his pep talk, I tuned in and buried the self-pity. Maybe I was the smallest guy on the ice, but that didn't mean I had to play like it.

If Michaels thought he had me as a punching bag, I'd change the game and be a ghost instead. How tough could he be while swinging at thin air?

During the second period, I flew with the wind at my back. Every time Michaels tried to get close, I was two strides ahead. I heard his curses, and they blended together like sweet harmony in a song.

In the blink of an eye, we were ready for the third and final period. Twenty more minutes to go, and we trailed by two goals.

The puck dropped, and I was off with jet engines strapped to my skates. With each stride, I picked up speed. Finally, I felt like my usual self again.'

Michaels tried to keep up with me, but I was already three strides ahead. I weaved in and out of the other defenders like they were standing still.

Five minutes in, I found my opportunity. I darted behind the net, pulling two defenders in my wake. At the last second, I flicked a pass to Quinn. He lit the lamp, and we'd cut the deficit in half just like that.

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