Hockey Fights and Restless Nights

The Rematch

The long week was finally up, and we all rushed to the bus in the morning to find a pile of all our phones. Everyone then quickly glued themselves back to their phones, checking their long list of notifications from the week we missed, everyone except me and Caleb. We talked the entire way home and both came to the conclusion that we wanted to go to a big hockey school next year and play on their hockey team. Obviously, the odds of us both getting on the team were slim to none, but we can have dreams.

Before getting off the bus, the coach informed us that we were to have a rematch against Saint Mary's in 5 days, and that he was excited to see how much we improved as a team. Once again, the coach pulled us aside and explained to us that he invited the college recruiters to come back to watch us play, and how important this game could mean to our hockey futures.

Unlike the first game, my co-captain and I decided to take this challenge head on together. We came up with plans with each other and with our team to show off everyone's best traits and skills to show Saint Mary's and the recruiters what a good team looks like.

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It was now the night of the rematch and me and Caleb were ready and better than ever. We had been facetiming and texting nonstop since the camp and going out for food together every day after practice. We even got up early one day and headed to the rink together to get some extra practice time in.

When our team was all done getting suited up in the locker room, the coach came out and appeared to be making a speech but then called Caleb and myself up instead to share some words of wisdom before the game. We got up in front of everyone and side by side before Caleb put his arm around me saying, "One thing I learned at our camp was trust, how to put your trust in your fellow teammate and friend and trust that they will do what they think is right for the team. Even if you're not the one scoring or saving the perfect goal, it's about how we play together as a team tonight." I turned and smiled at my boyfriend, proud of what he's become.

I then led the team out of the locker room, all of us banging our sticks on the floor as we entered the rink. Saint Mary's was already on the ice, and all heads turned to us as Mother (by Danzig) played above us. We showed off one of our recently learned warmups which definitely intimidated the other team with how well we were all moving together. The crowd went wild as we all lined up for our announcement of the starting lineups. If this game was anything like the last one, the crowd was in for a show. Our names got called as normal and both teams skated up to the starting line when instructed, putting me face to face with Richie once more, but unfortunately for him, this time I wasn't alone.

"Going to go suck each other off after the game?" Richie laughed at us.

"Only if you're holding up our dicks for us, we heard you're into that stuff." Caleb barked back at him. The tensions were high, but we were better than them, we now know that there is no point in stooping to their level when so much was on the line. 

The puck dropped and the game was on. We quickly got possession of the puck and me and Caleb raced up the ice side by side passing the puck back and forth juking out the entirety of the defensive line before Caleb slap shotted the puck right into the back corner of the net. The game continued very similar to this until the end of the second period. The score was 5-3 us and our team and our rowdy crowd was going wild during our break between periods. "If we just keep playing like this then we are destined to win." Caleb announced to us. "We still have a few more ticks up our sleeve if we need it."

"Make sure we continue to keep it civil; they know they are down a few points, and they will do anything to get them back." I added onto Caleb's quick speech. The buzzer went off and everyone hopped back on the ice. As we lined up for puck drop, Richie began barking at me and yelling gay slurs. I took one look over to the stands and saw all the recruiters with their college hats and holding their clipboards and just laughed. Nothing Richie could say would get in the way of me and college hockey. The puck dropped and came flying towards me, I quickly got possession and began moving at the ice. I quickly glanced over to Caleb who was far in front and clearly open. I lined up the shot and BOOM, I was thrown but into the wall, back first. The wind knocking out of me, leaving me speechless. I could hear whistles blaring and could see Caleb skating as fast as he could over to be before getting on his knees and putting his hands behind my head, helping pull me up to my feet. My back was in so much pain I could barely skate, and Caleb quickly noticed this too, putting his arm around me and taking all the weight of my body before skating me over to the bench. The Team Trainer, Mallory, then assessed me as the refs went over to Richie putting him into the penalty box with a 10 min timer. Mallory then told me that I would have to sit the rest of the game out which sent me into a rage. But I knew that my team, especially Caleb, could do this without me, especially now that stupid Richie was also out for the rest of the game.

The game ended and we won! The final score was 7-4 and instead of celebrating all together on the ice, Caleb took the whole team over to me on the bench, where, feeling much better, I got up and joined in all the fun, hugging Caleb tighter than everyone else.

We then all lined up, shaking the opposing team's hands, all of us skipping over Dickie Richie, then filled off the ice and towards our locker room. Me and Caleb were at the end of the line already talking about how good some of the plays were when we stopped by a man with a clipboard decked out in The University of Maine merch. "Caleb Callahan?" The man asked, "Can I have a quick word with you?" I patted Caleb on the back and told him that I would meet him in the locker room after, but as I was turning around, I heard a man behind me clearing his throat. "Can I have a word, Max Miller." I turned to find a man also decked out in college merch, but his read University of New Hampshire. My heart skipped a beat, UNH had a great hockey team and they still remained one of my top schools

"Great work out there today," he told me, "We think your leadership and hockey skills would be a great addition to our school and we are willing to offer you a full ride on it." I practically went nonverbal as he finished talking. A giant smile grew across my face as I grabbed his hand giving him a big handshake.

"That would be amazing sir, UNH is one of if not my top school and I'm a huge fan of your team." I told him. He then went on to tell me to expect some calls from him later on in the months to come to put together a commitment. We shook hands once more before he turned and headed off into the stands, taking the Michigan state recruiter with him. Me and Caleb now face to face both with giant smiles moved towards each other, I grabbed his arms with mine before we both yelled at the same time "I just got offered a full ride." "Oh my god, me too.'' We both responded back at the same time. He jumped into my arms giving me a big hug. "We're both going to be college hockey players," he told me, full of excitement.

"On opposing teams," I joked back. We then walked back shoulder in shoulder to the locker room. "Can't wait to beat you guys," I told him.

"Whatever you say," He laughed back at me.

We must have been talking to the recruiters for quite some time because by the time we reached the locker room everyone and their things had disappeared. "Thinking, what am I thinking?" he asked me in his seducing, deep voice.

"Whatever my boyfriend wants." I winked back, jumping on him....

The end

To be continued....