Chapter 4

CHAPTER FOUR

TYLER

Four months later...

“It’s only intermission, guys.” I stared at each of my players, willing them to feel the craving of a win. They could do this. I knew they could. “We might be down by two, but I believe in your ability to block and score. I want each of you to go out there and show those guys what you’re made of. We’ve worked all season long for this moment. Nothing’s going to stop us. Only us!”

Defeat was creeping in. The shadows clouded the corners of their eyes. They looked at the other team, bigger... faster than some of them, and that spark of hope was dwindling. However, I knew in my gut they could win.

Destined for greatness. Coach’s words filtered through my mind.

“Look, no matter what, even though I know in my gut you’re the better team, I am so proud of you guys. You took a chance with me when Coach Brown decided to retire. Now, I’m giving all of you the same faith.”

As the clock wound down, I put my hand in the middle and waited as each of my players piled their hands on mine. This was it. The last period of play. Whoever won this game was onto the area finals. These kids... Fuck , I thought I loved the game before, but being out there with them... They showed me a whole new reason to love the sport.

The buzzer sounded. “ Road Dogs on three. Ready?”

My son, Evan, even that still blew my mind saying that, grinned, bobbing his head. “One... Two... Three. Road Dogs !”

They barked like the mean, gritty Road Dogs they were, bouncing their sticks off the floor before taking off back onto the ice. I wasn’t an overly religious man, but I said a little prayer for the kids. Two points—three to win, wasn’t hard in the twelve minutes they had. However, a little divine intervention couldn’t hurt.

When I first took Coach’s spot, things didn’t go so well. I didn’t know a damn thing about coaching. I could play. I did it well. Telling the kids what to do, didn’t work for me, so I showed them. The first couple of games... We got spanked. Still, I learned something those few days out there on the ice. Changed my whole perspective, too. I couldn’t play for them. I had to refine the mechanics Coach already gave them. Show them film. Teach them.

By the following weeks games, we did better. The team took instructions well and their follow through was amazing. By using each of their talents and skills to the fullest potential, and by putting them into positions on the ice where they worked well, we had ourselves a competitive team. We proved that by being there at the semi-final game.

The buzzer went off and Evan hopped on his skates, shaking his sticks before skating toward the bench for a round of high-fives. I’d been so far into my thoughts; I missed him scoring. He stopped in front of me, cheeks pink, eyes wild, the smile on his face brighter than the sun as he looked at me expectantly.

“I told you,” I said, high fiving him. Later, I’d hug him. After the game. “Now, get back out there and do it again. Just like we’ve practiced. You can do this! I have faith in all of you.”

I reiterated what I’d said during my pep talk. I also learned, being their coach meant reaffirming my belief in their abilities. These kids... Man... Sometimes, I wondered if the parents saw the same spark I did in them. The yearning to do better. The unwavering verve to play the game. It was heady. Incomparable.

The teams hustled around the rink chasing each other up and back. I knew I should have pulled our goalie Timmy after the second time our opponent scored, and put Samantha in, but I didn’t have it in me to break the boy’s heart.

He only needed one play to get him back in the game.

As if my thoughts had turned prophetic, that chance was barreling down the lane. J?rgensen... The kid was huge for his age of almost eight. He had about three inches on Evan. His blond hair touched his shoulders. He was an absolute beast. His puck control was advanced, and his spatial recognition was off the chart. If the other team won, it was all because of him.

He was just that damn good.

Timmy set himself in the goal, his gaze locked on the puck. I wasn’t ashamed I held my breath while crossing my fingers. If Timmy didn’t stop the shot, I’d have to put Samantha in. I feared Timmy wouldn’t ever get into a goal again. The clack of the puck hitting J?rgensen’s stick echoed in the rink, and it was as if the small arena held their breath collectively.

Everything happened in a blur. A gunshot was the only thing quicker, I was sure of it. The ref blew his whistle as Timmy stared at his glove in complete shock. The sound that left me when I saw he held the puck would embarrass me later. For now, we weren’t out of the woods yet. Just because we stopped them from scoring once didn’t mean anything. I grabbed two of my best players still on the bench and called two of the kids off the ice. While they skated over, I gave the subs instructions. Under no circumstances could J?rgensen get the puck again. Especially with them being so damn close to the net.

I couldn’t do this for them. I couldn’t make the plays needed for them to win, but I could give them the tools to do it. So, I stepped back. Let them play the game. They had the ability in them. They had to figure it out on their own.

Evan got into place in the defensive face off circle, while another kid from the opposing team joined him on the other side. J?rgensen waited a few feet to the right of the circle, ready to play while Timmy hunkered down for a fight. If the Road Dogs were going to win, they’d have to make a move now.

The second the puck touched the ice, Evan hit it to Jordy who passed it to Callie. The girl’s equipment swamped her. After adjusting everything so she could play without her helmet obscuring her vision, she was a pretty good forward. She weaved her way through the other team, pirouetting around the boys like she was in her own world. Who was I kidding. Callie lived in a different world altogether, which was fine by me. I didn’t even know she made the shot, until she spun in a tight circle, and went into a plié, her signature move, after scoring a goal.

The buzzer sounded again, and she glided toward the bench. She grinned and giggled, accepting praise from her teammates. If she didn’t want to stay in hockey, I knew some people who might be able to help her combine her skills and make her one of the most formidable figure skaters in the world.

That a was a conversation for another time.

“Great job you guys!” I said high fiving all of them as they skated by. “You have three minutes to make one more goal. You’ve got this.”

Two more of our players came off as their replacements joined everyone at center ice. This sport was always down to the last second. No one could give up. These kids would play until we had to force them off the ice. I glanced up into the stands for the first time since the kids took to the ice. There Daria sat, watching with the other parents. She had her goth-bedazzled travel mug of coffee in her hands and a purple and green Portland Thrasher’s beanie on her head. Black and red fingernail polish—the color of the kids’ uniforms adorned her nails and on her cheeks were matching dog prints. Her “Evan’s mom” jersey matched the other parents who sat around her as they cheered the team on.

I loved her.

Four months ago, I didn’t think I’d ever get this chance. Four months ago, I was ready to admit defeat and give up. Hell, my brain had given up on me, so why the fuck not. Then, I saw her. Daria. Changed the whole trajectory of my life once again. I meant to tell her tonight how I felt about her too. Until then, I was still the Road Dogs ’ coach, and I needed to get my head back in the game.

Down to less than a minute, now. The goalie for the other team caught the puck, giving us an offensive face off. Evan stepped to the line, matching up with their right winger. They had to score and keep the puck from J?rgensen. I couldn’t look away. The second the ref dropped the puck, the clock wound down. They battled over the position of the puck, losing it between their skates and sticks, until the crack of a shot being taken and the subsequent buzz of a score broke through the tension.

Evan hollered shaking his fist in the air as the final buzzer went off, signaling the game was over. We won. Somehow, they came together in the last quarter and pulled out the win. The kids banged the boards with their sticks while cheering on their teammates. I wouldn’t say it was like one of those Hallmark moments, but damn, it was pretty close. I didn’t even know what to say. We were on our way to the finals.

Didn’t get any better than that.

Once the kids changed out of their pads and sat on the benches, I looked at each of them. Exhaustion and elation filled their gazes along with a hunger I knew all too well. One more win. One more game. We could have another area championship. The energy was electric as the parents waited for their children.

“Look guys,” I said, “I don’t want to take up too much time. You need to eat, celebrate, and rest. However, I am so dang proud of what you accomplished out there on the ice. You gave every bit of yourselves to the game and your determination paid off, big time. Today isn’t about what’s next. It’s about living in the moment and enjoying this victory. You deserve to have a little fun. So, we’re going to Sal’s for pizza. On me.”

Their cheers stole my breath as they jumped up and wrapped their arms around me. Out of the corner of my eye, I caught a familiar person along with Coach waiting with Daria and the others. After dismissing the team to their parents, I went over to the patient group to say hello.

“Damn good game, kid,” Coach said. “Couldn’t have done that any better.”

I grinned, shaking his hand. “Thanks, Coach.”

“When your old Coach called me and told me to come out and watch you,” Beau Kocur said, “I couldn’t believe what he was saying. I had to see this for myself.”

“Can’t take all the credit,” I said. “Coach did a mighty fine job before I got here.” I motioned for them to exit the arena. “Join us for celebration pizza?”

“You know it,” Beau replied. “I have a proposal for you too, if you’re willing to hear it.”

“Anything,” I said, wrapping my arm around Daria. “Can it wait until after the kids are in a pizza coma, though?”

Beau laughed. “Of course. Celebration first. Business second.”