Cheel Game

As I walked into the building with my bag strapped over my shoulder I realized that this could be my last time doing what I really love. I creped my way through the entrance, as my heart pounded with nervousness and excitement. I opened the locker room door and right then and there my whole career flashed before my eyes. I knew that what I have done on the ice throughout my lifetime has lead to this point. I slid my gear on and looked around the room. I saw good friends that I have played with all my life. Out of the blue I heard someone say “its bear season boys.” This was the only other senior and captain besides myself. He said this because our opponents were the Canton Golden Bears, our rivals. My friend and I have played on the same team since we were in third grade. He is one of my best friends and a great player.
When the coach came in to announce warms ups my heart felt like it was about to explode. I knew there was going to be a record attendance, and I wanted to kill those bears. I proudly walked down the hall towards the ice surface with a big “C” on my jersey. I stepped on the ice as a huge whistle blew for us. It was only warm-ups and already I saw the biggest crowd of people I have ever seen attending a high school sport. I knew that this was our day to shine. Warm ups ended and we all sat down in our locker room waiting for the zamboni to finish. Our coaches came in to give us a pep talk and tell us the starting line. It was my cousin Michael, my teammate Ryan and I. I was very excited to be the first line and give my team an advantage early in the game.
Again we had to make that walk down the hall. I was last in line with my fellow senior and best friend Cody. We walked onto the ice with the whistle blowing and the crowd screaming. I looked over at the other team and a feeling of hatred came over me. We lined up for the announcing of the starting lineups. As they called my name the crowd cheered. This caused a burst of adrenaline to rush right through me. I was ready to play the best game of my life.
It was a back and forth game throughout the first and second period. My coach was using only two lines. This made me extremely tired but I had to keep going. I knew if we lost this then it would be the last time to play for the Potsdam Sandstoners. We scored to take the lead and I thought for sure we were going to win this game and move on to the state championship. There was twenty seconds left and my team was scrambling to stop the opposition from scoring. I began praying to god, begging him to let us win the game. As I was begging I heard an explosion of cheers. My heart dropped when I realized what had happened. Canton scored with only 20 seconds left forcing us into overtime.
After one overtime we were still tied. The next three were scoreless as well. I was so tired I could barely stand up. The referees told us to pick our top three players to participate in a shootout. I was second in the shootout. As I looked down at the puck and directed my eyes towards the opposing goaltender I saw stars, the stars someone sees when they stand up too quickly. I almost collapsed but I thought about what I was sent out to do. I skated towards the goalie and I saw it. I saw the right top corner of the net wide open. I looked toward the left so I didn’t give away where was going to shoot. I released that thing so hard I almost fell. It was in slow motion as it headed directly towards the right corner. The goalie reached out but missed with his blocker. As it skimmed his blocker it barely nicked the knob of his stick. It hit the top of the net and went over. I then realized was going to happen. We were going to lose that game. The next two Canton players scored and we went on to lose the game. I cried like I have never cried before. I hugged Cody and we both realized that this was the end, the end to all of our devotion to the very game that was a part of us.
When we reached the locker room I wept even more, I realized this was the very last time I would take off a Potsdam jersey. I handed it to my coach as he said, “it was a joy coaching you Chris, and you were the heart and soul of this team.” He was the best coach I have ever had and probably ever will have. I went around the room thanking the players for working so hard to get us in the position we were in. I stopped and looked around and yelled, “I’m coaching next year boys and you better get ready to sweat bullets.” To this day I still want to assistant coach with the man who made me realize that it wasn’t a sport but it was a passion. It would be an honor being by his side this year. My coach and this game changed my life. It showed me how Potsdam will always be a part of someone and if I don’t coach this year I will be right on the other side of the glass watching the very people I ended my high school career with.