Page 155 of Unmasking Love
I block a shot that makes it through and Duncan pulls the rebound out wide. He gets jammed into the boards and the puck slides free.
When we got the rebound most of the players started to move back to defend their goal. But one went for a change which is why the puck is sitting open in no man's land to my left.
I skate up and flick the puck towards the empty net on the other side of the ice.
I move back to my goal expecting icing to be called when I see the Chicago player at center ice tries to bat it out of the air but misses.
It bounces down on the other side of the blue line and twenty thousand pairs of eyes watch the puck slide through the crease and into the back of the net.
The boys crash into me and we end up in a pile on the ice.
"FUCKING YOUNG GUN!"
"Yeah baby!"
"Let's fucking go!"
We get to our feet because there are still three minutes left in the game but I lead the parade of fist bumps along the bench.
I get a good head bump from Felix and a pad smack from Emmett as I skate back into my goal. When I reach my net, I shake off my glove to pick up my water bottle and catch Harper wiping a tear from her eye.
She's beaming and I'm sure they're happy tears but it still causes my hackles to rise. Then she laughs and mouths I love you with her hands forming a heart and I give her a smile back.
The final two minutes of the game tick away in slow motion as Chicago tries everything to score and force overtime. The puck gets tied up in the corner and I can see our bench standing and leaning forward on the boards. I keep my focus on the corner as Johnny and Duncan keep it trapped along the wall.
Their star forward is tapping his stick like crazy at the top of my crease, begging for a pass. I nudge him out of the way and he leans into me.
I'm about to throw my shoulder into him when Felix comes up and shoves him away. I can see this kid wanting to get into it but before he has a chance the buzzer sounds and the game is over.
We won.
We won the fucking championship.
The bench clears and we gather in the corner with ecstatic cheers and collective relief.
I feel like I could lift a car and also lay down right here on the ice for several days.
We line up for handshakes. I exchange a few extra words of encouragement with my former teammates. They start to roll out the carpet for the trophy presentation and I trade my mask for a champions hat.
"Young Gun, you won that game man! I'm passing the cup to you first!" Felix yells as he skates up to accept the cup from the commissioner. He skates around the rink with the cup over his head and after a full lap stops in front of me. I take the Stanley Cup from his hands but he doesn't let go right away.
"Whatever happens, you're a member of this team. Your name will be on this trophy with ours, forever."
I nod, it's the biggest response I can muster through the symphony of feelings in my chest.
I lift 35 pounds of silver over my head and skate away.
After being traded seven times in as many years I never expected to have this opportunity. And, I don't think it would have been remotely possible with any other group. I turn back towards my team and their smiles greet me.
I pass it to Bryson who takes his lap and I circle through the group giving hugs and high fives.
Then the door in the corner opens and our family members walk onto the ice. I see Harper in the crowd and skate to her.
"Aiden! Oh my god! I'm so proud of you!" She squeals as I pull her up off her feet. I spin us around and she giggles.
We both feel like we're flying.
"Thank you for being here," I tell her as I kiss her neck. "God, it all feels so good."
