Page 322 of Saving Forever with the Hockey Captain

Nothing spectacular.

Just hockey.

As I skate back toward center, I realize something that makes me grin inside my helmet.

I didn't think about my shoulder. I simply played.

The next few shifts come and go with growing confidence.

Coach rolls all four lines, keeping everyone fresh while both teams trade chances.

Caleb turns aside a dangerous one-timer with a blocker save that brings the crowd to its feet.

At the other end, Liam nearly scores on a wicked wrist shot that rings sharply off the crossbar.

"You owe me a goal!" he shouts as we change lines.

I laugh.

"I'll check my wallet."

"You'd better."

***

Late in the first period, Coach taps my shoulder.

"Walker."

I look over. "Next shift."

I nod once. The faceoff comes in the offensive zone. Ethan lines up beside me, still young enough that excitement occasionally outruns experience.

He glances my way. "You ready?"

I smile beneath my visor. "I've been ready for months."

The puck drops. We win it cleanly. The defense keeps the puck alive at the blue line, cycling it back down the wall.

Everything begins moving at once. Ethan drives toward the slot. Liam circles high. I slip behind the net, collecting the puck just ahead of a defender closing from my left.

The angle disappears almost immediately.

Nothing develops.

I reverse the puck safely back to Toby at the point before curling toward open ice.

The shot comes through traffic.

A rebound skips dangerously across the crease, and for one suspended heartbeat the arena rises as one.

Then the goaltender stretches across and smothers it beneath his glove.

The whistle blows.

As we skate toward the bench, Ethan bumps my glove.

"We had them."