"Great moments are born from great opportunity, and that's what you have here tonight, boys. That's what you've earned here tonight. One game; if we played them ten times, they might win nine. But not this game, not tonight. Tonight, we skate with them. Tonight we stay with them, and we shut them down because we can. Tonight, we are the greatest hockey team in the world. You were born to be hockey players—every one of you, and you were meant to be here tonight. This is your time. Their time is done. It's over. I'm sick and tired of hearing about what a great hockey team the Soviets have. Screw 'em. This is your time. Now go out there and take it!"

Herb's speech rang clear in my head as I stood in the far right corner of the team's bench and watched as the boys played the Soviet Union. Jack had gotten to play having been given a clean bill of health. He had brought his game up quite a bit since he had been out. I could tell there had been a lot of tension in him as he checked Krutov hard into the boards, giving Buzz time to score the first point at the middle of the first period. At the end, Johnson scored the second one with 1 second left o the clock.

Herb gave them a small pep talk in the locker room. He was happy they had brought their game. He had nothing bad to say because they were working. When we went back on the ice, I went into quiet mode.

I watched the second period with as much calmness as I could muster. I didn't usually bite my fingernails but this was a special occasion. I had bitten all off my left hand and was working on my right hand when Jimmy got hit. That was horrid. Jimmy had worked so hard to get here and had put his plans to sign with Atlanta on hold to play in these games. Now if he was taken out it would have been for not. I looked up in the stands. His father was there with this look on his face.

"Get up, Jimmy." I murmured, my hand fisting at my chest as my heart went in my throat.

The crowd went wild when he stood up and I fought the urge to cry in relief. I looked over and saw the boys cheering their teammate on.

We went back to the locker room and I took the time to look Jimmy over, giving him special attention to make sure he didn't have anything wrong. He was fine and he looked up at me to make certain he was. I sighed and nodded, smacking him on his shoulder pads. This emotional rollercoaster was going to be lasting for one more period and I had to keep it together until then.

When they went back on the ice to warm up, I took a deep breath. The crowd was cheering them on as they skated around. This was where they would go down in history one way or another. This was the hardest thing to watch because this team had only been together for seven months but they were holding their own against a team who had been together for 15 years.

Herb called the team over and told them to listen to chants of the spectators. They were chanting for us. The boys looked around. I looked at Silky and he nodded.

The face off was on by Johnson and he slapped back to his Rammer. Mikhailov took off after Johnson as he went for a shot. I really didn't like that man even though I didn't know him. It was just a feeling I had about him.

I decided I needed to calm my heart although I figured it was going to be impossible since this game was brutal. I ignored everything around me except the sound of skates on the ice and the sticks hitting the puck. It was comforting but then the fear came back.

We got a power play when 16 from the Soviet team was called for slashing. As time ticked down, we were not making much progress. Silky had the puck and was barreling down the boards.

"Last rush. Come on, Silky!" Craig called from beside me. I glanced at him and he looked at me.

Silky was checked, tumbling over the players' feet but not before passing it off. Johnson snagged the puck and fired, making the shot. We were tied. I covered my face with my hands. This was getting to be too much for me. The entire team jumped the wall and moved to the others.

The faceoff was won once again by the Soviets. I couldn't help but watch in stunned silence as Jimmy saved shot after shot. Buzz got rid of the puck suddenly and sent Rizzo on to the ice. Pav passed to him and Rizzo took the shot. He made it! We were in the lead! The entire place went into an uproar as once again the boys all took to the ice in congratulations.

I leaned hard against the wall behind me and watched the rest of the game. I couldn't breathe as the Soviets took shot after shot to get caught up. If Jimmy misstepped one time, they would score. The boys knew this, especially Mac. He dived so hard I could see he knocked the wind out of himself. I watched as they guys formed one line and backed up at the same time, Silky being one of them.

My heart pounded as the boys continued to change up every few seconds. Once I laughed at Buzz for taking on a guy two times his size. He didn't care. He was playing for his team, for his country.

All the workouts Herb had put these boys through were paying off. They were outskating the Soviets at every turn. They were diving, checking, and just beating them to the puck. There was no way around the boys. Jimmy was a beast in between the pipes.

On the bench the boys were jumping and cheering as the crowd began the countdown.

"5…4…3…2..1!"

Sticks and gloves flew everywhere as the boys skated onto the ice to celebrate. Herb disappeared and I watched him go. Twenty years since his last Olympic team had gotten rid of him and here he was watching and coaching this group into victory over the Soviets.

I walked out on the ice and went straight to Buzz. He and Silky were together in a tight hug. I elbowed my way to him and hugged him so tight I thought we were going to crush each other. He looked at me and kissed the side of my head.

"You did it!" I said over the cheering.

"No, we did!" he responded then skated off to celebrate with the rest of his team.

Before I could say a word to him, Silky grabbed me and kissed me. He was so excited he didn't care that there were thousands of people. He lifted me off my feet and swung me around. I laughed at him then he tilted his head back and whooped loudly. Another kiss made him the happiest man in the world.

As he skated off to join his team, Herb came over to me. He smiled down at me and turned around. I followed his gaze. The scouts were there. I looked at him and nodded. I had made my decision but I wasn't going to ruin the guys' party on the ice.

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That night after the game, we all partied. Hard. Booze flowed and there was no stopping it. Jack was drunk and having a good time as he partied with the fans out in the street.

Silky, Rizzo and I sat on a sidewalk and watched him, Mac and Buzz as they danced in the street. Buzz's wife had flown in to watch him play. They were all smiles as they danced together. Mac and Jack just grabbed girls and danced about. They were acting as if nothing else mattered.

"Well, we've beaten the toughest competitors in this competition." Rizzo said as he sipped his beer.

"Yep, but don't underestimate the Finnish. They are the best so far." I said.

Silky pulled me close and kissed my head. We were going to the finals and that was exciting.