In July 2022 I wrote this story of a young girl who played hockey. And she had the same fears and dreams as all kids do who play this sport.
Anna shook her head, looking at Coach Mark, and said “Coach are you crazy? I have not scored a goal all season. I’m a defenceman.” Coach smiled and responded, “You have never been in this situation before; so now’s the time. I believe in you.”
The game had been going on for what seemed like forever. Three regular periods and three overtime periods played. And the game remained tied, 2-2. Now they were in a shoot-out, and so far no one from either team had scored. Anna had been identified by Coach to take the Stingers third shot and she was in shock. There were much better goal scorers than her on the team.
Even her teammates were surprised but they were yelling support and ideas for what she should do. Her best friend, Billy who was also the team’s top scorer had hit the goal post on the team’s first shot smiled at her in encouragement. She knew this was the first time she and many on her team had had a chance to win a championship, and her teammates were desperate to win and now counting on her.
Anna skated toward her own net as a way of calming down. As she approached her goaltender, Denis, he reached out and tapped her pads. “You’ve got this Anna. The Coach would not ask you if he did not have confidence.” Anna asked him his thoughts on what she should do. Denis suggested a quick deke and then to put the puck high on the other goalie. “Just remember Anna, there’s no pressure. If you don’t score, I know I will stop their next shot and then someone else will score for us.”
Anna laughed but then the Referee blew the whistle, signaling it was time. She looked at her bench. Everyone was cheering her on. Coach yelled out “Believe. You can do this.” Anna glanced at the other side of the rink, seeing her parents in the crowd. They raised their arms and then put their hands over their hearts, the long time sign the family used to signal love and support. The noise was incredible as everyone stood. It was time to focus.
Anna looked at the goalie. He was huge in the net. He tapped both posts and slowly skated around. He crouched as the Referee raised her arm.
Anna circled at her blue line to gain some speed, then headed up ice. She pushed the puck ahead from the centre ice dot, and started forward, slowly stickhandling. Anna was not a fast skater but she gathered speed, surprising herself at how fast she was moving. It was like someone else was skating for her. She moved wide to the right, and then shifted direction, cutting into the middle of the ice. Then straight at the goalie.
She leaned to the left and the goalie moved. It was time. No deke; just a shot. Anna snapped the puck with a flick of her wrists. As she veered past the net, she heard the ‘ding’ of the puck hitting the goal post, and immediately felt disappointment.
But there was a roar and as she looked over her shoulder, the puck rolled across the goal line. The red light was on. It was a goal. She had scored and the team had won. She slid to the ice as her teammates raced to mob her. She raised her arms and yelled.
Anna snapped her head up at the sound of her teacher’s voice calling her name. “Anna, why are you yelling? And where have you been?” Anna looked about, bewildered as her classmates all looked at her. She must have dozed off and been dreaming. They all seemed to be waiting for her. Her teacher who happened to be her team’s Assistant Coach walked towards her, smiling in amusement. “It’s your turn Anna. You spell this next word correctly, and your team wins the Spelling Bee today. Good practice for the championship hockey game tomorrow.”