A/N: I wrote this chapter while listening to Ben Harper's "Amen Omen." It's truly an amazing song. Also, although this might be a disappointment to some, I am not going to attempt to write a full-on, realistic hockey scene. Seeing as I would only embarrass myself in the process with bouts of ignorance, I'll leave that part to the imaginations of all you rabid hockey fans.
Adam stood at the entrance of the ice. He was almost afraid to take the first step—Adam would then have to accept the irrevocable end. The only thing that ran through Adam's mind—and it ran like it was competing in the Boston Marathon—was that THIS would be the last time he'd ever be on the ice. Hockey was a huge part of Adam's life for 15 years and as strange as it seemed, it was maybe the hardest thing for him to say goodbye to.
"Hey, Banks! Are you planning to stand there forever? We have a game to play!" Adam turned around and saw Coach Orion standing there, arms crossed with a smile on his face.
Adam felt foolish just standing there. Slowly he placed his right foot on the ice, and then the left. Adam pushed off and let himself glide on the ice, not quite paying attention to where he was going. The ice beneath Adam's skates felt unreal, like he was floating. Adam crouched down and slid his hand across the ice as he skated, like he needed tangible proof that he was there at that very moment. Flashbacks raced through Adam's head.
Adam thought about the first time he ever took a step on the ice, at the pond near his house. Adam was just three years old at the time, but even then he could feel the ice's magical presence—the same presence Adam felt right now.
He remembered scoring his first goal in Pee Wee hockey—Adam could recall looking into the stands and catching the first of the few and far between expressions of genuine pride on his father's face.
Adam saw Jesse's face towering above him as he lay in a stretcher back in fifth grade—knowing that he had found his friends for life.
Adam evoked distinctly the memory as he rotated his stick with his right wrist in the championship game of the Junior Goodwill Games.
Adam felt the impact of the puck hitting his side as he lunged to cover the goal during the JV/Varsity game of his freshman year.
Adam even remembered skating in an empty rink, leading Thomasin by the hand as he attempted to teach her the basics of skating. Adam saw vividly the moment when he caught Thomasin as she was falling down, her face flushed with both embarrassment and being winded. Looking back, that may have been the first moment Adam felt the first budding and hidden pangs of love.
Moments later Adam found himself in the middle of the pre-game huddle, in the midst of his teammates.
"I just want to emphasize on some notes for today," Coach Orion got right to business. "Adam, when defending on Terrence Evers, drive the action to his left—he has the potential to smoke you on the right side but Evers is a bumbling idiot when forced with making a decision on the left side. Guy, don't edge off of Harris Franklin on defense—he has a moving slap shot that'll make you pay. Don't let Ashland push you into a battle of defensive wills—that's the only way they can win. And don't stop moving—keep the offense flowing. Adam, do you have anything else to say?" Coach always gave the captain an opportunity to speak his thoughts on any addition items. Most of the time, Adam just tried to make ostensible sense. However, today Adam knew he would never be satisfied with himself not speaking from the heart.
"We face Ashland today, and since in our careers we've been undefeated against them, I know that it's very easy to write off this game. But as your captain, I ask you to remember—these are the best times of our lives. Every week, a small piece of immortality is waiting out there on the ice for the taking. We owe it to ourselves, and most especially to that part of ourselves that loves hockey unconditionally and purely, to play each and every single one of these games as if it were our last. I love you guys and there are no other people in this world that I'd want to share these moments with. Go out there and play for dedication, camaraderie, and most importantly, the love of the game—because right now, that's all that matters. I know that I haven't been the perfect leader and we haven't always been the perfect team. But I've tried my best and you've all tried your best—and sometimes, that's all we can ever ask for." Adam looked every single one of his teammates squarely in the eye—this was Adam's way of saying goodbye, and he knew that he could not really do it properly without playing his heart out today.
The Ducks placed their hands together like spokes in one wheel, and Adam reveled in the peace and security he felt in the proximity of his teammates—his closest friends. As they skated to their positions and waited for the beginning of the game, Adam took his place at center ice. Adam felt the beginning of the poignant end and time seemed to slow as the referee dropped the puck for the first face-off.
Adam stood at the entrance of the ice. He was almost afraid to take the first step—Adam would then have to accept the irrevocable end. The only thing that ran through Adam's mind—and it ran like it was competing in the Boston Marathon—was that THIS would be the last time he'd ever be on the ice. Hockey was a huge part of Adam's life for 15 years and as strange as it seemed, it was maybe the hardest thing for him to say goodbye to.
"Hey, Banks! Are you planning to stand there forever? We have a game to play!" Adam turned around and saw Coach Orion standing there, arms crossed with a smile on his face.
Adam felt foolish just standing there. Slowly he placed his right foot on the ice, and then the left. Adam pushed off and let himself glide on the ice, not quite paying attention to where he was going. The ice beneath Adam's skates felt unreal, like he was floating. Adam crouched down and slid his hand across the ice as he skated, like he needed tangible proof that he was there at that very moment. Flashbacks raced through Adam's head.
Adam thought about the first time he ever took a step on the ice, at the pond near his house. Adam was just three years old at the time, but even then he could feel the ice's magical presence—the same presence Adam felt right now.
He remembered scoring his first goal in Pee Wee hockey—Adam could recall looking into the stands and catching the first of the few and far between expressions of genuine pride on his father's face.
Adam saw Jesse's face towering above him as he lay in a stretcher back in fifth grade—knowing that he had found his friends for life.
Adam evoked distinctly the memory as he rotated his stick with his right wrist in the championship game of the Junior Goodwill Games.
Adam felt the impact of the puck hitting his side as he lunged to cover the goal during the JV/Varsity game of his freshman year.
Adam even remembered skating in an empty rink, leading Thomasin by the hand as he attempted to teach her the basics of skating. Adam saw vividly the moment when he caught Thomasin as she was falling down, her face flushed with both embarrassment and being winded. Looking back, that may have been the first moment Adam felt the first budding and hidden pangs of love.
Moments later Adam found himself in the middle of the pre-game huddle, in the midst of his teammates.
"I just want to emphasize on some notes for today," Coach Orion got right to business. "Adam, when defending on Terrence Evers, drive the action to his left—he has the potential to smoke you on the right side but Evers is a bumbling idiot when forced with making a decision on the left side. Guy, don't edge off of Harris Franklin on defense—he has a moving slap shot that'll make you pay. Don't let Ashland push you into a battle of defensive wills—that's the only way they can win. And don't stop moving—keep the offense flowing. Adam, do you have anything else to say?" Coach always gave the captain an opportunity to speak his thoughts on any addition items. Most of the time, Adam just tried to make ostensible sense. However, today Adam knew he would never be satisfied with himself not speaking from the heart.
"We face Ashland today, and since in our careers we've been undefeated against them, I know that it's very easy to write off this game. But as your captain, I ask you to remember—these are the best times of our lives. Every week, a small piece of immortality is waiting out there on the ice for the taking. We owe it to ourselves, and most especially to that part of ourselves that loves hockey unconditionally and purely, to play each and every single one of these games as if it were our last. I love you guys and there are no other people in this world that I'd want to share these moments with. Go out there and play for dedication, camaraderie, and most importantly, the love of the game—because right now, that's all that matters. I know that I haven't been the perfect leader and we haven't always been the perfect team. But I've tried my best and you've all tried your best—and sometimes, that's all we can ever ask for." Adam looked every single one of his teammates squarely in the eye—this was Adam's way of saying goodbye, and he knew that he could not really do it properly without playing his heart out today.
The Ducks placed their hands together like spokes in one wheel, and Adam reveled in the peace and security he felt in the proximity of his teammates—his closest friends. As they skated to their positions and waited for the beginning of the game, Adam took his place at center ice. Adam felt the beginning of the poignant end and time seemed to slow as the referee dropped the puck for the first face-off.