The Olympics continued, and we followed that first win with a 7-3 win over heavily favored Czechoslovakia, then victories over Norway, Romania and West Germany and we earned a spot in the medal round. Through all this I still wasn't allowed to play. It was killing me to watch my team out there without me.

Next we're playing the Soviets, and we're not the favored team, but finally, I'm allowed back on the ice and we're going to take this game like we took the others. Not for America, not for Brooks, but for us. We're going to win this one for us.

The game began and following a slash, which doesn't get called a penalty, the Soviets score the first goal. Finally I entered the game and the first thing I did was knock down Vladimir Krutov, in a play that led to a goal by Buzzy. Then the Soviets scored again and then, in the final seconds, the Soviet's goalie stops a long shot by *Dave Christian*, but then *Mark Johnson* got the rebound and scored with less than one second left in the period. The clock shows 00:00 and the crowd is going wild.

"Holy shit," Rizzo said to me, "We might actually do this."

"We are going to win this game, I can feel it," I said back, and he nodded.

In the second period the Soviets scored a goal to bring the score to 3–2, them. The crowd is losing their heads, but we aren't. We are totally calm and in control. Brooks prepared us for this- we're doing everything right.

Early in the final period the Soviet team is called for a penalty, giving the Americans a man advantage. Johnson scored his second goal of the game, just as the penalty is about to expire. Rizzo entered the game and scores to give the US a 4-3 lead. The entire team skates onto the ice as the crowd celebrates.

"You did that!" I yelled to him, "You!"

The Soviet team is aggressive, trying desperately to score in the final ten minutes. We were able to hold them off. Two days later, we defeated Finland to win the gold medal.

We did it, we won the Olympics gold. This is our time.

And one day will be my and Gianna's time.