Page 81 of My Pucking Crush

Max

I hoist the Dresden Trophy over my head after seven brutal games against Portland. The benefit of being team captain: I get to touch it first.

And it’s my last time.

I skate around with it, fisted in two hands and high in the air, like it could hit the rafters. Visions of every hockey god before me doing the same thing flashes through me.

But now, I’m the GOAT.

The crowd roars, and I soak it up even though it was hard team work to maintain a win record that allowed us to share this with our fans. Here in Stamford. I worried my last shot at this glory would be in front of an angry crowd who watched their team lose.

When a reporter sticks a mic in my face, I thank GM Reid who signed me fifteen years ago out of college. I thank Coach Beck for being the kind of man a player needs. I thank the players. Even the ones who are angrily trashing our visiting locker room.

Then I start my prepared speech...