Chapter 31- Gunnar Stahl A Shootout Champion at Last!
Gunnar's POV
"Alright Coach we need 5 more players, you can't use the ones you already used," The Ref said.
"Okay Moreau, Portman, Robertson, Hall and Stahl," Coach Orion said.
"Me?" I asked.
"What about Gunnar?" Portman said.
"I think he deserves the shot. Let him finish what he started," Coach Orion said.
I had started to break down the ice my last shift during the overtime period. I missed my footing and the puck banged wide off the net.
Coach Bombay and Orion took me aside. "You've been Practicing your quadruple deke, right?" Coach Bombay asked.
"Yeah," I said.
"Then you got it, just go stick side," Coach Orion said.
I gulped before I said, "I can't do this."
"Yes you can, not too many guys get a third shot of redemption," Coach Bombay said.
"But what if I miss?" I asked.
"What if you score?" Coach Orion said.
Flashback August 6th, 1994.
"Ágústus its your net. Shooters are Axel, Dagnýr, Olaf, Óskar and…' Stansson hesitated, 'Gunnar. Let's bring this home for Ísland."
"ÍSLAND!" We all chanted.
Ágústus got into his net and faced down Jesse who easily scored. Axel was our first shooter and scored on Goldberg. We all cheered for him. Guy was next for the USA and Ágústus went down as Guy went right into the net and scored. Dagnýr was our second shooter and went to the glove and Goldberg caught it. We could not believe it. Then Cowboy was next, and he performed some neat puck handling with his puck.
"Vá það er flott (Wow that is cool)," I said.
"Þú hafðir alltaf gaman af svona skít. Sjáðu hann sem tapaði sem hann saknaði, (You always liked that sort of shit. Look at him the loser he missed,)" Olaf said.
I saw that Ágústus had released the puck back to the refs. I earned a glare from Stansson.
"Olaf your up, Gunnar get your head in the game," Stansson yelled at me.
Olaf my best friend got onto the ice and skated out to center ice. Once the ref let go of the puck he took it towards Goldberg and slap shot it from the blue line just over Goldberg's glove.
"Yeah," Coach Stansson, Marria and the rest of the team said, it was now tied two goals apiece. I was proud of my roommate and best friend. Fulton was next for team USA. He stopped in about the middle of the circle and let go of his shot and hit Ágústus right in the helmet, he fell back, and the puck bounced right in. Ágústus was slow to get up but he waved Marria that was coming out on the ice away. Óskar was next and it went above Goldbergs stick. Then came out ninety-nine for team USA. Adam looked really nervous and had to get the reassurance from the coaches after rotating his wrist. He was gorgeous.
I knew that from the time that we ran into them on the beach. They were playing around and having fun. Team Ísland was training and running. Coach Stansson said that we would get a hell of a running workout on the beach. He was right through. He should know his year here in America he was with the Los Angeles Kings. I looked over the team and we shared a look between us. Before Olaf told me let's go. It was then that several of the ducks were getting arrested. After the reassurance from Coach Bombay to Adam. Ágústus stood up from his goalie stance like if we were going to go or not. Ágústus got back down quickly as Adam took off down the ice and shot it in the four hole.
"You got this Gunnar," Olaf said to me as I started to walk up bench to the door.
"Gunnar," Coach Stansson said.
I looked at him.
"You can do it. Come on. Go," Coach Stansson said. I nodded and took off for the ice and put my helmet on as I was skating out to center Ice. The next thing I knew Julie was coming out to replace Goldberg.
"Go get him, Julie," Goldberg said as he tapped her on the shoulder and then left the goal crease.
I chuckled; this was going to be easy. It was like they wanted to lose. In Ísland, women were to remain at home caring for the children. My mother did it for all of the Stahlsson's and Stahlsdóttir's. Same with my ömmu (Grandma's) for both Mama and Pabbi. As well as all of the other women that came before them. I was sure that my sisters would do the same thing once they settled down. She was a woman trying to do a man's job. Olaf and I both gave her a hard time during the first game against team USA which resulted in us being pushed and her thrown out. I deked once, twice and three times and gave a slapshot from about the middle of the circles and she dove for it and caught it in her glove and then she stood up and flipped it out of her glove. I knew that I failed against her.
Julie came out of her net and said, "Nice Try." and then skated off to her teammates who were piling out of their bench area. I hung my head as I skated towards the Ísland bench. I took my helmet off and threw it against the boards and glass between team Ísland and the fans. As I skated down to the door to go and take a seat and sulk I was faced by Coach Stansson.
"Gunnar," Stansson said.
I looked at him with a what look.
"You lost it for me," Stansson said.
"Vou lost it for yourself,' I said to them and then I turned to my teammates, 'Let's go shake their hands."
Olaf looked at me nervously and then followed me back out onto the ice, the rest of the team followed him and finally Coach Stansson and Marria came out as well. Our line was formed, waiting for the ducks. The first few Íslanders and Ducks started to shake hands when Coach Stansson was making his way to the end of the line.
"Good vork Captain Duck," I said to Charlie, who looked like a little person compared to me.
"Thanks Gunnar," Charlie said, and I continued to shake the hands of both of the coaches for team USA. Adam was first in the line.
It was quiet in the Ísland locker room after the game. Until Olaf spoke up with, "I can't wait to get the fuck out of this country."
"I am ready to go home," Óskar said.
We were pulled out onto the ice to receive our Silver medals. Once Olaf and I got back to Mark's Tower, the Dorm that Team Ísland was staying in on the USC Campus. Olaf threw his medal in the trash and said, "Come all this way for a cheap silver medal.' Then he looked at me, 'You would be better off throwing it in the trash too." I held on to my silver medal. It was something to be proud of I guess.
"No, I am going to show Mamma and Pabbi they would be proud of me," I said.
"You are such an idiot," Olaf said and then he quickly left the room.
I spent the next couple of days doing a few tourist things. I was damned if I was going to come to America and not bring something back for Mamma, my brother, and sisters and my ömmu. Not to mention the house staff. I was by myself leaving to do the tourist things when I saw team USA load up their belongings on the bus that Monday morning, August 8th. They were a few floors up from us in Mark's Tower on the USC campus. I guess they kept all of the hockey teams together for some reason.
"Vou leaving Captain Duck?" I asked.
"Yeah our flight leaves in an hour, we are going to have a bonfire up at Banksie and Ace's cabin tonight," Charlie said.
"Oh," I said. Wishing that I could join them up at the bonfire and come home on a different flight then the one that we were going to be on tonight.
I had finished packing my bags and I took my suitcase down to Marria's room before I left for the touristy things. I was told to be back by 6:30. I didn't get back until almost 7:15.
"YOUR LATE!" Coach Stansson yelled at me.
"I vorry coach, I didn't vnow vhe vime," I said.
"Yeah well thanks to you, we almost missed our flight to go home!" Coach Stansson yelled.
"I vorry," I said.
"You're Sorry? SORRY ISN'T GOOD ENOUGH! YOU HAVE LAPS TO DO WHEN WE GET HOME! WHERE WERE YOU THE LAST FEW DAYS," Coach Stansson yelled.
I said nothing.
"GET ON THE BUS," Coach Stansson yelled.
I looked at each one of my teammates and they either said no or the seat was taken. I had to sit down next to a figure skater, she got bronze in her events. Emily MacMillan from team USA got Gold then someone from Norway got Silver.
It was a long flight home. 38 hours of no one from all of Team Ísland would speak to me. Everyone heard about how I was beat out by a girl. Although Coach Stansson was mad at me and made me do 120,000 Laps, followed by 120,000 suicides. He was the least of my problems.
No that came in the form of my father.
"I SACRIFICED FOR YOU TO BRING HOME THE GOLD AND THIS IS HOW YOU REPAY ME, BRINGING HOME A STINKING SILVER MEDAL?" My Pabbi yelled.
"STAHL, ÞETTA ER NÓG ! (STAHL THAT IS ENOUGH!)" My Mamma yelled.
"NEI, ÉG VERÐ EKKI HÆTTA AÐ, JÓHANNA.(NO I DON'T HAVE TO STOP, JÓHANNA.)' He then turned back to me, 'ÞÚ GUNNAR ERT VONNI. HVERNIG þorirðu að slá af stelpu. FOKKING STELPA ! (YOU GUNNAR ARE A DISAPPOINTMENT. HOW DARE YOU GET BEAT BY A GIRL. A FUCKING GIRL!)" My Pabbi yelled.
"Ég er SORGUR Pabbi (I'm SORRY DAD)," I said with tears in my eyes.
"GUNNAR HÆTTU grátinn þinn. HÁTT er fyrir börn. Þú ert vonbrigði (GUNNAR STOP YOUR CRYING. CRYING IS FOR BABIES. YOU ARE A DISAPPOINTMENT,)" Pabbi yelled.
I took off after that, I ran two houses down from mine about 1.60 Kilometers to Olaf's house.
"HVAÐ HELVÍTIS VILJIÐ ÞÚ TAPA FAG (WHAT THE HELL DO YOU WANT YOU LOSER FAG?),Olaf asked.
"Ég þarf að vera hér um stund, vinsamlegast get ég verið áfram? (I need to stay here for a while, please can I stay?)" I asked.
"ENGIN GUNNAR! FÆÐIÐ FJANDIÐ AF LANDGUNARNUM MÍNUM! (NO GUNNAR! GET THE FUCK OFF MY LAND GUNNAR!)" Olaf said.
"Gunnar…" a voice said.
"Gunnar…." another voice said.
"Gunnar…." one more voice said.
"Gunnar wake up," said a female voice.
"Gunnar…." said the first voice.
"Huh?" I said as I was brought back to the present.
"You're up, Gunnar," Coach Bombay said.
"Oh," I said looking at my feet.
"You okay?" Adam asked.
"Yeah," I said as I pulled my helmet down and headed out to the ice.
Bella's POV
"Alright Coach we need 5 more players, you can't use the ones you already used," The Ref said.
"Okay Moreau, Portman, Robertson, Hall and Stahl," Coach Orion said.
"Me?" Gunnar asked.
"What about Gunnar?" Portman said.
"I think he deserves the shot. Let him finish what he started," Coach Orion said.
Gunnar had started down the ice his last shift during the overtime period. Missed his footing and the puck banged wide off the net.
Coach Bombay and Orion took Gunnar aside and talked to him.
"THIS IS UNFUCKING BELIEVEABLE," Portman said.
It was several minutes before we were ready to go. Julie got sent back out onto the ice. It was a 4-4 tie. The Blue Devils sent out their sixth shooter and he went wide. Connie was up and she missed. The Blue Devils sent out their seventh shooter and he scored. Portman was up and unloaded a slapshot and hit the goalie in the shoulder pad, he fell backwards, and it went in. The score was 5-5 tie. The Blue Devils had to send out the medical staff and pulled their goalie off of the ice. It took several minutes for the senior goalie to be ready to go again. Once he was good to go, they sent out their eight shooter and he missed. Dwayne was up next, and he did his puck tricks and missed wide. The Blue Devils sent out their ninth shooter and his goal went in. Jesse was up next, and his goal went in making it a 6-6 tie. The Blue Devils sent out their last shooter and Julie caught it with her glove. It was now Gunnars turn.
"Gunnar…." Coach Bombay said.
"Gunnar…." Charlie said.
"Gunnar…." Adam said and then he looked at me worried.
"Gunnar wake up," I said.
"Gunnar…." Coach Bombay said.
"Huh?" Gunnar said he looked around.
"You're up, Gunnar," Coach Bombay said.
"Oh," Gunnar said looking at his feet.
"You okay?" Adam asked.
"Yeah," Gunnar said as he pulled the helmet down and headed out to the ice.
Gunnar's POV
My heart was pounding, no it was racing. I was so nervous.
"Alright son, on my whistle," the ref said.
"Yeah," I said.
Soon the ref whistled, and I kicked the puck out. I deked once, I deked twice, I deked a third time, the goalie went for his glove side, I deked a fourth time, and it went into the three hole.
"YEAH! YES!" Went the crowd that was for Eden Hall.
"DUCKS WIN, DUCKS WIN! I DON'T BELIEVE IT!" The radio announcer said.
The next thing I knew I was mobbed by my teammates. Adam got to me first.
"GUNNAR, GUNNAR YOU DID IT!" Adam screamed.
"I did?" I asked.
"WE WIN!" Charlie screamed.
I looked over and I saw the goalie grab the puck out of the next. The next thing I knew he was skated over to me and handed me the puck and said, "Congratulations. I will see you next year at the U." Then he skated away.
"See you next year," Adam yelled after him. Then he turned to me and hugged me tight and gave me a kiss on the cheek.
The trainer put some tape on the back of the puck and wrote with a black sharpie "2000 MN Class AA State Tournament winning puck. G. Stahl." By Monday I had gotten a case for it and proudly displayed it in my room. By the time 2009 came around the ink had faded significantly, Luckily I was able to write on it using a silver sharpie marker.
"And now ladies and Gentlemen presenting your 2000 Class AA Minnesota State High School Champions for the last 14 years, the Eden Hall Ducks! Congratulations Coaches Ted Orion and Gordon Bombay," said the rink announcer. As an official handed the State School trophy to Coach Orion.
The School song started to play.
"When I call your name, please come up to receive your medal from your coaches; assistant captain number 00 Guy Germaine, assistant captain number 4 Les Averman, assistant captain number 6 Julie Gaffney, assistant captain number 7 Dwayne Robertson, assistant captain number 9 Jessie Hall, assistant captain number 16 Ken Wu, assistant captain number 18 Connie Moreau, assistant captain number 21 Dean Portman, assistant captain number 22 Luis Mendoza, number 25 Aaron Vandertuig, assistant captain number 33 Gregory Goldberg, number 39 Thomas Simmons, number 42 Jeremy Wofford, assistant captain number 44 Fulton Reed, number 53 Caleb Erpelding, assistant captain number 56 Russ Tyler, number 61 Cody Hoegh, assistant captain number 63 Isabella Banks-Bombay, number 73 Aaron Hadenfeldt, number 84 Paul Andrews, assistant captain number 89 Gunnar Stahl, assistant captain number 96 Charlie Conway, captain number 99 Adam Bombay. Congratulations Eden Hall academy," said the rink announcer.
Then Hail Ducks came on again. We got together for our on-ice pictures, I was in between Bella and Adam with Charlie on the right of Bella. Then we skated over to the student section of Eden Hall, and we all celebrated.
After we finished celebrating on the ice we moved the celebration to the locker where we popped open the four cubes of pop the Bash Brothers stored in their lockers. We gave each other a pop bath and Coaches Orion and Bombay got a pop and Gatorade bath. Only Dean Buckley interrupted the celebration with "Excuse me Coach Orion but there is someone outside who wishes to congratulate you. I told him no visitors, but he wanted to do it anyway."
"Of course, send him in," Coach Orion said.
In walked I kid you not, Sylvester Stallone.
"Oh my God, it's Sylvester Stallone," Portman said.
"Guys this is the Italian Stallion," Fulton said.
"Please Sly is fine," Sylvester Stallone.
"I told you," Goldberg said.
"I don't believe it, Goldberg I am sorry man," Charlie said.
"Me too," The rest of the senior ducks with the expectation of Averman said.
"It's alright," Goldberg said.
"Averman you knew?" Connie asked.
"Yeap I talked to him on the phone once. It's a pleasure to meet you," Les said, holding out his hand to shake Sylvester's hand. He took the hand and shook in kind.
"This is better than Meeting The Great ONE," Fulton said.
"What I tells yous kid. Yous made me proud," Sylvester Stallone said.
Goldberg smiled big before he said, "Thanks Cousin Sly."
"Can we get your autograph?" Portman and Fulton said at once.
Sylvester Stallone smiled and said "Of course."
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