Dream On (Jonathan Toews)

Chapter Fifty-Four| For The Third Time In Six Seasons

Mary Kate

You know the saying "defense wins championships"? The phrase people say all the time but don't actually know what it means. Yeah, that one... Here's a situation: the other team just scored the most difficult and prettiest goal you have ever seen, I mean there will never be another goal like it. But  another team has 10 ordinary goals and only let up that one the whole game. Now that goal is nice and all. But there isn't style points in hockey, a loss is a loss and at the end of the day the team that defended better won. As a hockey player we have two jobs, put the puck in their net and keep it out of yours. If you only do half of that you won't win, as simple as that. Especially not playing in the Stanley cup finals where it's the two top teams battling for a win. The whole series it's been a one goal game. At any moment anyone could tie it up or extend the lead but it never seemed to happen, whoever played better defensively that night won the game.

We lead the series 3-2 and look to win the first Stanley cup on the United Center ice for the first time in... let's just say a long time. The mad house was packed to the brim with red and you could feel the excitement vibrating off the walls. "You ready rookie" Hossa chirps as we warm up. "I might actually shat myself" I say and he thought it was hilarious. "Don't tell Sharp because he will do everything in his power to make sure you do" he says before taking another shot. Hossa has been in these kinds of situations so many times before he's no longer phased by the pressure, he thrives off of it. Me on the other hand, Yeah I was freaking out. "Just remember to keep your head up and keep the puck away from Corey" he advises and I scoff. If I only thought of that... Soon enough Jim gives one of the best national anthem performances of his life and the puck is dropped. Not a whole lot happens in the first period. Both teams are getting used to ice conditions and just wait for someone to break the ice.

During the first intermission we go into the locker room with high morals. The score was tied at zero but we were pretty confident. "The main goal here is to keep the puck out our net. Don't worry about scoring until you have the puck out of our end. Keep putting pressure in our zone and try to avoid turnovers" Q instructs us at intermission. I sit in my stall as my head floats into the clouds, wondering what it would be like to win the Stanley cup here tonight. Winning the gold medal last year was cool but compared to winning a Stanley cup as the first girl to play in the NHL, that's ground breaking. "What are you thinking about" Jon asks me snapping me out of my day dream. "Thinking about what it's going to be like to raise the trophy over my head" I admit. "Lets go make that dream a reality" he says helping me off the bench.

We take a 1-0 lead thanks to Duncs and head into the third looking to tighten up defensively. All we needed to do is win by one goal, and that's what we had. But everyone knows it's never that easy so the last 15 minutes we shut down. I have the puck behind the net and see Brad Richards go up the wing, I was due in for a change but had a lane to get the puck to him. I chop the puck to him and it was just him and Patrick and a defender in the offensive zone. Their defense breaks down and Brad makes a great no look backhanded pass on Patrick's tape who lightly one times it into the gaping net. I make it to the bench by the time the play finishes and celebrate with the boys on the bench. As the seconds tick away we all start getting antsy, Crawford was a wall tonight and I would put a lot of money on him getting a shut out. Less than a minute remains and I'm sent out to keep the puck out our net. I was out with Jonny, Duncs, Hammer, and Saad. Jonny wins the face off and I grab the puck. With ten seconds left I don't try to pass and cause a turnover so I carry the puck into the neutral zone nearly untouched and dump it. The horn sounds and it was finally over, we had done it. For the third time in 6 seasons the Chicago Blackhawks were Stanley cup champions. I toss my gloves and helmet and jump into Crows arms before everyone joins us. I couldn't understand a damn thing anyone was saying, everyone was talking at the same time and Chelsea dagger was blaring through your the arena. I look around at everyone's smiling faces. From Kimmo who just recently joined the team and finally won a cup. To Darling who is quite possibly the sweetest guy ever and the most bad ass backup goalie. To Patrick who wasn't sure if he would be here playing. Each guy has a reason to why this meant everything to them but we were all just happy to be with each other. Eventually we break apart and shake hands with the other team. We congratulate each other on a hard fought series and they were all nice about it. "Hey Fletcher... good series" Stamkos says and I fangirl a little, just a smidge. Bettman is met with a warm welcome of boos and I couldn't help but laugh. I dealt with the man during the lockout and I can say I feel their pain. He presents the Conn Smyth trophy to Duncs who had one of the best post seasons for a defenseman. He played almost half the game every night and made plays only he could do. He isn't human, that's all I have to say. Next he gives the Stanley cup to Jonathan who skates around with it until he comes over to Kimmo. It was a risk for him to have played, but with retirement around the corner he wanted to win the cup and be a part of it, so the Blackhawks granted him that wish. Jon hands him the trophy and he lets out a battle scream. The crowd cheers loudly as he skates around with it and I wanted to cry, but not yet. I get passed the trophy and it didn't feel like thirty-some Pounds. It felt like victory. Looking out into the crowd it felt like way more than 22,000 people. I lower the trophy to kiss it and raise it above my head once again. This was for my family.

That night we hit the bars and I decide to let loose a little. A beer or two would be enough for me. I never was a fan of drinking but it would be harder to get a glass of water than beer around here. The whole night Jons arm was around my waist and he never did leave me. I didn't mind any because I was marrying the man in a few weeks or so. Patrick eventually finds us after the third bar and I think it was time to call it quits. "Wait... I didn't get her number" he mumbles as I attempt to get him in the back seat of my car. "Patrick, you're dating Vanessa" I remind him before not so softly tossing him in the car. "Oh my god I looove Vanessa" he says before falling into a fit of laughter. "What's so funny" I ask getting in the drivers seat and making sure Jonny was still conscious after he passed out in the passenger seat. "I used to have the biggest crush on you" he laughs and I roll my eyes. I just figured he was too drunk to realize what he was saying. "Sometimes when I say I love you, I mean I love you love you. But Jonny gets alllll the good shit" he says starting to pout. "I'm not 'good shit' Pat. I'm a person and I make mistakes too" I say driving throughout the city to drop him off at his and Vanessa's place. "I still love you" he says quietly and now I'm starting to think he wasn't kidding. "Are you being serious right now" I ask and he nods sheepishly. Suddenly I feel bad for snapping but this is something we don't need right now. "We'll talk about this later, don't say anything until then. Got it" I ask and he nods. Vanessa comes out and takes him inside and I drive home trying to figure out what just happened.