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Ty intercepts the puck and glides down to the net, passing it over to Alton Hart, where he takes what I now know as a ‘slap shot’ as he cracks it swiftly into the net over the goalie’s shoulder.
The crowd erupts, and Cindy jumps up and down. Alton celebrates with the team as Ty, who set it up nicely, bends to one knee and glides towards the players’ bench, punching his arm and pointing towards Cindy.
She squeals, and we girls all follow suit when the rest of the team slides up to the glass.
Ashton slams into the barrier, looking straight at me as the kids on the players’ bench jump up and down excitedly. He gives me a look that even I can make out over the helmet he wears. It gives me butterflies inside, knowing it’s just for me.
“Your man is on form!” I hear Elle holler towards Cindy as they laugh and excitedly keep watching as they all skate back to continue play.
They donkey around a bit on the ice; it’s common during training but not regular games. The atmosphere today is casual, and they're using more elaborate moves than usual.
I didn’t see any donkey moves going on at the game I saw, and rightly so.
It revs the crowd up to see the players laugh and shake their heads and even congratulate the other side when a good pass or a shot slips through.
Ashton is in his element. There’s something about watching him that just brings a warmth to my heart and my body. I need to get my arms around him as soon as possible.
Watching him in the third period, as the All Stars take the lead, I can’t help but open my heart just that little bit more. Because with this man in front of me, doing what he does so well, and everything that’s good about him radiates, how can I not?
CHAPTER 19
Ashton
I always feel good on the ice, no matter what else is going on around me.
It's an indescribable feeling to see Maddison wearing my jersey behind the players' bench.
Even in this short space of time, it makes me a better man. I know that for sure.
It makes me loosen up on the ice and have a little fun, and that’s not what I’m used to either because these kinds of games don’t come up too often. But I realize somewhere halfway through the play that it’s a good thing to let loose a little and do some fancy footing I never usually do. My block across the ice in the first period really got everyone going. I slid a quarter of the way across the ice into the net.
Tyson patted me on the back as he pulled me up.
It only spurred me on seeing Maddison enjoying herself in the crowd. Her jumping up and down with her friends really made me pull out all the stops. I guess I wanted to show this beautiful girl what I can do.
We take a fifteen-minute break after the third period, where the All Stars beat the Super Jets. Alton, who I played withinstead of against, gives me a slap on the back as we vacate to refresh before we get back on the ice to have a game with the kids.
I can’t say I’ve ever done this before. But the NHL coach of the Miami Spirit, Stanton Kelly, who has volunteered his time to keep us all in check, gives us an ear bashing in the locker room. There will be one kid for one NHL player, so the ice is going to be a little crowded for the next game.
“You guys know better than anyone that if a kid gets skittled, we all fucking got a problem,” he hollers out in no certain terms.
We all know there are strict safety standards in junior hockey. They will obviously kit the kids up with padded pants, gloves, knee, elbow, shin, and hip pads, and they wear foam-lined helmets with a full-face mask. Kids can get bumped and bruised while skating, so it's important to prioritize their safety.
The youth coach, Mickey Anderson, agrees with Coach Kelly and emphasizes safety precautions. “Good skating skills and fair play are the two things we can really encourage here with making sure the kids stay safe on the ice,” Coach Anderson says. “They are going to be in their element playing with and against their favorite players.”
Nods go around the locker room with both teams all crowded in together.
“Everyone ready for the kids?” Coach Kelly asks.
We know they are waiting just outside, eager to meet us before we get out onto the ice for the first of our friendly ten-minute periods.
“Let’s do it.” I pump my fist in the air as the guys cheer and call out.
Coach Anderson ushers the excited kids in so we can all get acquainted before we take to the ice.
The kid working defense with me is called Joey, and he is probably stronger on his skates than I was at twelve. It goes to show how far the sport has come in so little time.
We could be looking at some of the future bright stars right here and now.
