Princes of New York | Mat Barzal

~8~

After a couple hours, we arrive at the arena where we see hundreds of chairs lined up in rows on the floor and a stage has been built with a backdrop that has the NHL shield on it. The chairs are organized by team so Mat and I wander through the forming crowd to find the section with the Islanders logo on it. We spot it and then we see Cal and Cassie Clutterbuck and Meg and Josh Bailey. They, along with a few other players came to support Mat and Coach Trotz, who's nominated for coach of the year. Mat is up for the Bill Masterson award: the trophy awarded to the National Hockey League player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to ice hockey. The other nominees were Sean Couterier, Nathan Mackinnon and Wayne Simmonds. Tough competition. After the mass of people takes their seats, Mat and I are sitting with Cal and Josh and their wives when Gary Bettman takes the stage and begins the ceremony. "Good evening ladies and gentlemen. I am so proud of this league's accomplishments this season. We have overcome many obstacles and seen many accomplishments by this fine group of men. Without further ado, lets get the NHL Awards Ceremony underway! I present to you..." It was at this point when I turned and looked at Mathew, dressed all fancy and looking on as a youth hockey team took the stage to announce the nominees of an award. I was so proud of him and all he's done this year. Overcame a concussion, led the team in goals and now is nominated for the second year in a row for an award.

Eventually we get to Mathew's award when someone in management from the league announces the Bill Masterson award. He announces the guys names and a short highlight reel of them. "And our last nominee; from the New York Islanders, Mathew Barzal!" Everyone claps and cheers for him as he smiles and my eyes wander to the screen where they're showing some of his goals and even the injury against the Bruins that game him the concussion, then it comes back to him scoring a goal in the very next game he played. Then the reel ends and the crowd gets quiet. "This year's Bill Masterson trophy award winner is...." The man announces with a long dramatic pause that has me literally clutching Mat's hand. "MATHEW BARZAL OF THE NEW YORK ISLANDERS!" The man yells into the podium microphone. My jaw drops and I jump to my feet with Mat who also stands to accept his award. He gives Josh Bailey a quick handshake and then he turns to me and gives me a tight squeeze and peck on the cheek before making his way out of the aisle and up the steps of the stage to receive the trophy. There was a camera on him from the second they announced his name. The clapping and cheering died down as he approached the podium, shaking the man's hand and holding the trophy. "Wow! I- I can't even believe this! I just want to say thank you to everyone who got me here. The team had an incredible season this year and I'm very proud to be an Islander. I want to thank the guys, Coach Trotz, my family and my girlfriend all for believing in me and telling me that no matter how many bad days or bad games there are, hard work always wins. Thank you!" He says before being directed off stage probably to go get a picture with his award. I sit through the rest of the ceremony with Cal and Josh and when it finally ends, I stand and rush with them to find him afterwards. I find him standing at a table with the award centered on it and he's getting an interview done. I take this opportunity to whip out my phone and snap a picture of him speaking with the reporter. When the lady leaves, he turns to me and his teammates and I hurry to him and hug him tightly. He squeezes me and I place a hand on his jaw and plant a kiss on his lips. "Aww" I hear behind me, Meg probably took a picture. "Do you want a picture?" He asks. I nod, wiping the one tear away from my face as I take my place next to him behind the trophy. We both smile and Meg takes another picture. Then I move and take one of him with his award and then I have him move away from the table and take a picture with just me.

People come and do some more interviews and pictures with him and he signs a few autographs before getting late. The guys and their wives go along with us to get a celebratory drink in the city before headed home. Mathew got a smaller version of the trophy to take with him because you can't keep the original so he sat it on the seat of the limo next to him while he sat close to me and slid a finger under my chin, lifting my eyes to his. He gazes into my eye for a moment before kissing me. His kiss was not rough, rather...needing. His hand slid up my leg farther and his fingers brushed past my butt. After a few moments, we both became out of breath. Just in time, too, because the limo was arriving back at our apartment. Mat took my hand and helped me out of the car and grabbed his award. His hand still in mine, I followed him through the halls of the building silently, my legs weak and my joints slightly achey from our moment in the car. Neither of us made a peep until we got to our place and Mat unlocked the door with his free hand, Not letting go of mine. Once the door is open, he all but yanks me inside and closes the door behind me, locking it. The door barely clicked into place before he pushed me against it and his lips were on mine once again. He set the trophy down on the table inside the door along with his keys and I slid his suit jacket off his shoulders, throwing it on the couch somewhere. I kicked off my heels, hearing them clatter on the hardwood floor. Mat undoes the bowtie he was wearing and threw that somewhere too. All the while, he's gently pushing me towards our room. Once there, he kicks that door shut with his foot and his fingers work on the zipper of the dress while I undo the buttons of his dress shirt. I pull the dress shirt off him and he loses the belt. Now he's pushing me against the edge of the bed, lips never leaving mine except for a moment when I whisper "I'm so proud of you." To which he says with a breath out "I want you...now." The rest of the night ends how you'd expect. With him mumbling incoherently in French along the way. One thing I love that he does.