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Five minutes leftin the third period.
We are annihilating Richardson College. Our team has so much skill and raw talent. Our defense is on fire.
And you know what they say, ‘Defense wins Championships.’
Raiden King, who I hear the guys call Radar sometimes, when they aren’t calling him King, can zero in on that puck and stop it from reaching our goalie 99% of the time. Either stopping it with his body or stick. Landon is paired with him, and he is just as aggressive as Raiden, but in his own silent assassin way. He can predict the move before it’s made. Then he challenges the opposing player until they can’t complete their play. Between the two of them, it’s like watching a symphony on ice. It’s cliche, I know, but let’s call a spade a spade.
The sound of loud cheers breaks me from my thoughts.
Focusing on the ice, I see players from Richardson skate from their end to ours. A couple sticks lay abandoned, along with a few pairs of gloves. Hudson, our captain, is holding a few guys back from the other team. Trace Barlowe, our goalie, has started to skate toward center ice. Fuck.
I stand to get a better view of what is happening on the ice. Raiden has one guy in a headlock, helmet off punching him repeatedly. Droplets of blood stain the ice, I’m sure it’s from the guy he is pounding on. Meanwhile, I spot Smiley against the boards, being held there by another Richardson player. Landon has skated up behind him and has the guy by the collar of his jersey trying to pull him off. Then he knees him in the back of his leg, causing the player to drop. Smiley skates out of the way, helping the rest of his team keep the other team’s players back, while Raiden continues to beat on the guy. Landon jumps on his guy, who is now laying on the ice. Landon punches at the guy’s ribs while practically sitting on him. More cheering ignites the area, moving my attention back to Barlowe. Him and the Richardson goalie have just dropped gloves.
What in the fuck did I miss while I was zoned out?
Leaning over to the person next me I ask, “What the fuck happened? I completely missed it.”
Buddy chuckles while keeping his eyes on the display in front of us, “Beaumont high-sticked Smiley, then checked him hard into the boards. That’s who King has right now. And after that, all hell broke loose. No fucking idea why the goalies are fighting, but this is fucking amazing.”
No one messes with Smiley and gets away with it. The guy is shockingly good at this game and a clean player. It’s all adding up now.
The refs and linesmen are trying to separate them all but it’s utter chaos on the ice, whistles blowing, discarded equipment everywhere, both teams' coaching staff have left the bench. Coach is trying to stop the goalie fight, which is tragic. Goalie fights are rare and amazing. Not that I condone violence, but it’s hockey.
Finally, the refs are able to separate a few of the guys. Hudson is pushing some of the other team’s players back to their designated bench area.
A voice comes over the loudspeaker.
“Ten minute major, unsportsmanlike conduct, Raiden King. Ten minute major, unsportsmanlike conduct, Landon Cooper. Five minute major, Mark Beaumont, high-sticking.” Damn.
Thankfully the goalies were left out of the penalties. But our best D duo are out for the rest of the game now. All three head back to their dressing rooms. No point sitting in the box with only two minutes left in the game.
The ice team is out trying to scrape and level out where the bloodstains are. Guys are collecting the gloves and sticks scattered. Coach’s face is red.
The guys skate off the ice, smiling. They aren’t ashamed.
We are up 4-2, I have faith our guys can keep the lead even while playing four on five for the rest of the game, but it’s not going to be fun.
As part of our power play team, Hudson takes center ice for the faceoff. He wins it. We have control of the puck. Now we just have to keep it.
The minutes pass. My heart races. We cannot let Richardson in our zone.
‘Last minute of play in the third period.’ Sounds over the loudspeaker.
We are all on our feet. Clapping and cheering. Come on boys.
I’m bouncing on the balls of my feet. They are killing this penalty perfectly.
The buzzer sounds.
The crowd gets even louder. A smile spreads across my face.
I fucking love this game!
7
HUDSON
What a way to close out the first half of the season. Shit.
