Chapter Forty-Two
Matt
We knew going into the tournament that our goal was to prove to the world that we were still a great team, even without Lane Avery and Nicholas Crew.
We were realists enough to recognize that the odds of getting another national trophy weren’t in our favor, but that wasn’t going to stop us from trying, and it certainly wasn’t going to stop us from playing our best.
The first game was an easy win. With a three to nothing win, we felt good going into the second game against Connecticut. Maybe a bit better than we should have.
We were falling apart after the second period, exhaustion ripping away our grit. Bruised and beaten, our heads had hung low. And it wasn’t until Coach got Lane on the phone, blasting him on speakerphone to tell us to get our shit together, that we actually did.
Jett didn’t seem bothered. Truthfully, I was pretty sure it was his idea. All season, Jett had been a rock for our team. He’d made good choices on our behalf and played like a pro, and yet, he still understood— there would never be another Lane.
Down by two at the start of the third, it wasn’t looking good. But we fought. Hard. And by the graces of God, we managed to make a comeback, winning it in overtime.
But right now, in the Frozen Four, we knew we were at the end of the line.
There was a pain in my chest, weighing my shoulders down, and I knew it was more than just my lungs begging for air.
Three minutes sat on the clock. Next to the time, stood the score. I glanced away. I had to. It was a massacre.
Western Michigan had us in a chokehold, managing to squeeze the puck past Cody far too many times tonight. We were down six-to-two.
We knew they were going to be a good team. We knew that two years ago when we lost to them in the second round, but they’d managed to get even better, and at this point in the game, we were no match.
The closer we got to nothing on the clock, the faster my heart raced. I knew how this game would end. We all did.
But that was hockey. You could be on top of the world one second and back to the bottom the next. It was a demanding sport, both physically and mentally.
The fatigue was seeping in, and the reality of our impending fate was tormenting each of us. But every bruise was a token of how much fight we’d given. And each goal was a reminder of how good of a team we still were.
I hadn’t wanted my college career to end on a bench, and it wasn’t going to. At least that would ring true.
Losing was never fucking fun. But I’d gotten numerous Frozen Four appearances, got to play numerous tournament games, had two conference titles and a national championship under my belt. I had the opportunity to play with my favorite people, the best teammates anyone could ever have.
And that was more than enough for me.
We all got to end this thing together.
Taking one last glance at the scoreboard as the clock winded down, the sight burned me. But I endured it.
Skating over to Cody, I was the first one to meet him. We didn’t speak. Just dropped our sticks, letting them glide a few feet away before our arms were around each other.
It was only seconds before we were surrounded by our teammates.
I wasn’t feeling anger, or even disappointment. I wasn’t feeling much past the aching muscles and blossoming bruises. But if there was anything under all that, it was gratitude.
It definitely wasn’t as beautiful of a moment as the team hug we’d had after the championship, but it was close.
We didn’t have a win to celebrate tonight, but we did have another successful season to celebrate.
My college career was officially over, but I knew where I was going next. And the future was fucking exciting.