AllFreeNovel
Share Us
"Hey, bud, mind if I join you?"
Eddie looked up, surprised but respectful. “Not at all, Coach Hoss."
I sat down beside him. "Heard you're starting tonight. How are you holding up?"
His eyes were a mix of excitement and pure, unfiltered anxiety. "To be honest, really nervous, Coach."
I chuckled, slapping him lightly on the back. "Hey, you think anyone here wasn't in their first season? Rookie jitters are like a rite of passage. But you've got something most rookies don't."
His eyes widened. "Really? What's that?"
"Instinct. Listen, don't get into your head too much out there. The moment you start second-guessing is the moment you're out of the play. Stick to your game, trust your gut, and let your skates do the talking."
Eddie took a deep breath, looking a little relieved. "Thanks, Coach Hoss. I needed to hear that."
"Anytime, kid. Now go on, and get ready to light that lamp."
As I stood and walked back toward the office, I spotted Pete across the room. He’d watched the entire exchange, and he smiled when he saw me looking back.
I’d done the heavy lifting and that little grin from Pete? Felt like scoring before even hitting the ice.
Still, all the pep talks in the world wouldn't matter if our men didn't deliver on the ice. For the moment, we'd done all we could. Next would come sweat, speed, and hopefully—a win.
The air in the rink was electric. Playoff contention was on the line, and we all felt it—coaches, players, even the damn crowd. If we lost, we could count ourselves out of the postseason. If we won, we still had a chance. It wouldn’t guarantee anything, but it would give us an opportunity.
The first period was rough. Passes didn’t connect. We lost face-offs. It was like our men were skating through slush. Pete paced the sidelines, arms crossed, head lowered, and I knew he was second-guessing starting Eddie.
During a timeout, I motioned him over toward me. His eyes darted around like a deer caught in headlights. "Hey, Eddie. Relax, man. Trust your instincts and play your game, okay? You're here for a reason."
He looked at me, his shoulders dropping an inch, tension loosening. He nodded. "Thanks. I got this."
And damn, he was right. He had it. Back on the ice, he intercepted a pass like he had magnets in his stick and set up the play that led to our first goal. The arena erupted, drowning out the goal horn. On the bench, we fist-bumped and slapped Eddie's back.
I glanced at Pete, who stood at the edge of the rink. Our eyes met for a split second. I saw that tight-lipped smile—a rare Pete classic—and knew he was starting to believe in Eddie, too.
Then, just as quickly as we rode to our high, the opposing team snatched it away with their own goal. Pete's face went back to its default setting: serious and calculating. The crowd's roars turned into collective murmurs full of nervous energy.
In the final minutes of the game, my gut twisted into knots. Then, Eddie did it—stole the puck right off a defenseman's stick and jetted down the ice. The arena was so quiet you could hear the hiss of skates cutting through ice. My heart? That sucker was in my throat.
He took the shot. The puck soared, hit the crossbar, and bounced into the net. Goal. The crowd lost their minds. We mobbed Eddie so hard it was like a rugby scrum on ice. I was the first to hug him, squeezing the life out of the kid. "You did it, rookie! You freaking did it!"
Pete strolled into the locker room after the win, a grin curling the edges of his mouth. The players were still whooping it up, drenched in sweat and victory. He clapped his hands together, grabbing everyone's attention.
“Listen up, gentlemen!"
The room quieted down, all eyes on him.
"What a night, huh? It’s great to see this team come together like that. Grit, talent, teamwork, we had it all. But tonight," he paused, turning to face Eddie, "I want to call attention to a man who went above and beyond."
Eddie looked up, his eyes widening with surprise and perhaps a touch of pride. Pete walked over and patted him on the shoulder.
"Kid, you showed everyone what you're made of. You gave us not only a game-winning goal but also the confidence to believe in ourselves as a team. Now that," he gestured to the rest of the guys, "is leadership material. You've got a bright future. Don't forget that."
Eddie nodded, the flush on his cheeks a mix of triumph and modesty. "Thanks, Coach. I couldn't have done it without these guys."
Pete chuckled, nodding his head in agreement. "That's true. Hockey’s a team sport. But tonight, you were the spark we needed. Well done."
Loud, raucous cheering spread through the team. Pete stepped back to let Eddie bask in the spotlight.
