Jesse

The game against Brown on Friday is the last one before we go to Madison Square Garden to play in the Frozen Apple.

I was injured last year, so I didn’t get to go, but this is my last chance to play at MSG and I’m going to soak up every last second of it.

We’re playing at Brown’s stadium in Providence, so that means another long bus journey.

We don’t let it dampen our spirits thought, and everyone’s in a good mood all the way there, talking about how we’re going to kick their furry little butts.

There’s still an atmosphere between me and Jones though everyone pretends not to notice.

He sits on the other side of the coach, and though he doesn’t sit next to be at every away game, it’s obvious he’s avoiding me now.

I tell myself not to worry about it.

I love Nate and it’s worth it. Jones will just have to get over it, even if it takes some time.

It’s different playing in someone else’s stadium.

Changing in the away team’s locker room.

Nothing is familiar.

Your usual quotes on the walls aren’t there.

You have to bring your equipment with you and it’s not waiting for you in its usual spot.

It’s something guys like Jones will have to get used to when they play in the majors.

But I don’t need to.

I secretly imagine we’re back at our own rink, coming down the stairs to the roar of the crowd as we tap our team mantra:

Respect

Courage

Determination

Out on the ice, it’s all the same though. I forget where we are and tune into the familiar sound of blades slicing through ice. The clack of hockey sticks warring for dominance. Petroski screaming at us to cover his ass. Home sweet home.

No one is giving anything away when we get out there, and it’s a battle to keep the puck away from our net for the whole first period. Petroski screaming until he’s red in the face.

Every time Coach pulls me off, I think I can do five more minutes until I sit down on the bench and feel my muscles burning and my heart pounding.

He reminds us why we’re here before we go out into the second period. We’re here to show these guys who’s boss. Who the champions are.

We’re all pumped when we get back on the ice, but so are Brown. Maybe they had the same pep talk. We get out there and it’s easy to see what their strategy is – take down our MVP.

Jones is swarmed any time the puck comes near us and Brown give away a stupid penalty trying to trip him near the goal.

Their goalie is screaming at them as we swarm their net and it’s only a matter of time before we score, surely?

The second their player comes out of the penalty box, another defender charges at Jones and I skate in the way to protect him, coming into contact with a six five boulder of pure muscle and determination.

I go down, hard, the wind knocked out of me.

A split second later, my head hits the ice, and then… nothing.