Page 127 of Lucky Laces
“Am I good?”I mutter.“No.But I’m more than ready to go win a fucking hockey game.”
His mouth quirks up.“Now that’s the best thing I’ve heard all day.”
Being downone our star forwards less than an hour before game time isn’t ideal.
But there are always a few players who travel with the team in case of injury or family emergency, so I looped in Wilder, one of our young guys.
It’s a good opportunity for him to get some playing time in the big leagues.
And it’s a great opportunity for us to see the skills he’s been working so hard to develop in the AHL.
“That’s it, kid!”King shouts, jerking me out of my thoughts and sending my focus to Wilder.
And, damn, King’s right.
Wilder is carrying the puck up along the far side of the boards and he’s just deked around Lake Jordan.
That’s right.
Lake Jordan.
With a move that is so damned wicked it should be illegal…with a move that pisses off Lake because he digs in his edges, sending up a spray of snow as he rapidly changes direction and takes off after Wilder.
But Wilder is at full speed and he’s got those wicked moves and?—
I whistle softly as he gets around one of the Sierra’s defenseman, Riggs Ashford, and closes in on the goal.
He lifts his head, looking to dish off a pass?—
Or…never mind.
It’s a fake, and even I bite for a second.
The Sierra’s goalie does too, shifting off his post and giving Wilder space to shoot.
And the kid’s got some hands.
Hands he uses to shoot…and slip that puck into the top corner.
All without looking.
I whistle again, and Kaitlyn glances over at me, our hockey coach hearts expanding three sizes at the joy that shot brings us.
I look back at the ice, see that Lake’s furious.That Riggs is even more so.
Wilder won’t get that much space again, won’t have so clear a lane at the net again, not now that they know what he can do.
But given the determination in his hazel eyes as he exchanges fist bumps and nods back at me when I tell him, “Nice work,” I have no doubt he’ll keep bringing that to his game and upping the ante.
Fuck yeah.
Pat Franklin might have officially just lost his starting spot on the roster.
And the Sierra better watch out.
We’re coming for them.
Hell, we’re coming for everyone.
