See Kate Score

Chapter 22 - Stanley Cup

Chapter 23: Stanley Cup

    "Ten minutes left in the third and final period," the announcer said loudly overhead as we skated the ice.

    Ten minutes, that's all we had to win. We were facing Anaheim, and it was tied, 5-5, with little time left. Skating towards our side, I stood on offense while watching Ky handle the puck with agility and skill.

    Come on, Ky. You've got to get this.

    He shot, but missed by nearly an inch off the goal post. For the next minute or so, we just tried and tried to shoot with no luck whatsoever.

   Finally, in the last five minutes of the game, the puck was passed to me.

    Not hesitating a bit, my feet automatically moved forward towards Anaheim's goal. Passing their players one by one, I ducked and swerved out of the way with the puck still in my reach. Handling it back and forth, I made it so that I was only ten feet away from the goal.

    Then I shot.

    And I scored.

    The siren blared and lights flashed over the ice. People in the crowds cheered while my teammates all came to me and patted my back; sometimes pulling me into a bear hug.

    Now it was 5-4, and there were 4 minutes and 21 seconds left in the last period. Hopefully, we would hold Anaheim off long enough to keep them away from scoring at our goal.

    I saw Killian take a long drink of his Gatorade and put it back down, and I mentally thanked him a thousand times for being such a damn great goalie.

   

    Three minutes left in the game, I was starting to relax; the exact thing I did not want to do. Needing to keep my guard up at all times and my focus sharp, I followed the puck.

    Jackson had the puck and was heading towards Anaheim's goal, but one of their players checked him and sent the puck skidding towards our rival.

    Cursing under my breath, I pumped my legs faster to catch up and try to check him, but he was too far away and too fast for me to catch up in time.

    And then he shot into our goal.

    And the Anaheim Ducks scored a point.

    I was a little dazed after that, but finally regained my focus. Shit, shit, shit...

    I caught Ky's eye and he looked more pissed than ever. Some Anaheim fans that came over from California were cheering loudly and screaming with joy. This was not good.

   Now there was only a minute and 37 seconds left on the clock, and we we're tied with the Ducks. Not good at all.

    We got back into our positions and the referee dropped the puck. Number 34 from Anaheim got it and skated off.

    Hot on his trail, we all went after him. Jackson managed to take it from him, but another Duck got it back.

    More like Anaheim Dicks...I thought.

    51 from the other team handled the puck like a pro, I had to admit, but he made a fatal mistake in slowing down to look back, and that was when Mason, our guy, took it from him and headed towards the goal.

    Inwardly smiling to myself, I watched as Mason diligently avoided being checked by two players, and even dodged an illegal hook from the Ducks.