Page 49 of Dreams
The third period was less eventful. Mack tied the game and there was only a minute left, which is why Josh was surprised when Coach told him to get out there with Mack.
Mack gathered the puck in the offensive zone as Josh streaked up the other side of the ice to be on the receiving end of a beautiful cross-ice pass. It seemed easy in a way that scoring goals never seemed easy to him. The puck felt natural on his stick as he brought it under control and then flipped a backhand toward the net. It was as if everyone held their breaths in that moment, collectively releasing them as the light came on seconds before the horn sounded, announcing the end of the game.
Jackets players poured off their bench to swarm Josh at center ice. He didn’t know how he’d done it.
The team skated off the ice, but Josh was held back as the first star of the game. He’d never been first star before and couldn’t help wondering if this was how Mack felt most games.Hedid this.
The crowd died down long enough to hear the announcer start talking. Josh sat next to him on the now empty bench.
“Quite the game, Josh,” he said.
“Thank you.” Josh leaned in to talk into the microphone. “This was a team win tonight.”
“And you played a large role in that with your Gordie Howe hat trick - a goal, an assist, and a fight.”
Josh grinned. “It was a fun one.”
“Well,” the announcer said slyly. “I’m going to ask the question everyone here is wondering. The girl.”
His dimples shone on the big screen of the Jumbotron as his smile widened. “She’s my good luck charm, obviously.”
“I’d say she is,” he laughed. “Thanks for this, Josh. You’re only twenty-one, so I look forward to what you can do if that good luck charm sticks around.”
Josh went back to the locker room where he had to answer some questions from the media before Coach Scott saved him by calling him to his office.
“Shut the door,” Coach said.
Josh complied as Coach sat behind his desk and put his head in his hands. Josh didn’t know what to do so he stood there, nervously shifting from foot to foot.
When Coach finally looked up, his eyes were glassy. Josh was stunned into silence.
“I wanted to…” Coach cleared his throat. “Just thank you, Walker. Thank you.”
“For what, Coach?”
“You brought my daughter back to us.”
“Sir, I didn’t do anything.”
Coach stood and walked around the desk to put a hand on his shoulder. “Trust me, Son. You did.”
