20. Chapter 19
Chapter 19
Icouldn't help but look in the direction of the box seats filled with the families from the shelter and Natalie. Each month, Nat would help me coordinate getting one of the shelters to a game, but this felt extra special. The Legacy was going to promote the fact that I paid for the box and worked with the shelter on a regular basis. I really hoped that the shelter would get tons of donations.
But I also loved knowing that Natalie was here. She never really came to games since she claimed she needed time to work on her main gig and needed time away from her hockey boys.
I wished that she would wear my jersey, but she refused. Something about not wanting to offend her brother and bring bad luck to the team. But we didn't need luck with a game like tonight's.
It was one of those fun games where you could get really chippy and run guys over without having to worry about being penalized every damn minute.
I was a pest, and I loved being that guy for the team.
As the final minutes of the period ticked down, the determination and the speed in the Stampede decreased. The glory of a hard-hitting game. The guys didn't like it and never would.
When Scuba landed a solid check onto the Stampede's leading d-man, trapping him in the corner, it was time for Carter and me to take off.
I rushed the net the moment that Carter crossed the line with the puck. It was one of those plays that seemed like I was going to screen the goalie. But I wasn't there to make it difficult for the goalie to see; no, this was a set play. I slammed my stick down on the ice with it perfectly angled to throw the puck into the goalie's five-hole. Carts threw the puck to me, and I jammed it toward the net, but it unfortunately reflected off the goalie's pad since he moved slightly. But the puck was free, so I just whacked at the vulcanized rubber until it crossed the goal.
I might have done an extra smack or two to the goalie's legs, but I wasn't going to stop until the play was stopped. It was hard to say since that horn didn't sound right away.
So, of course, DeLoo, the Stampede's defensive man and one of their fighters, came up to me. I stood my ground and stared him straight in the face. I refused to blink, and I could see he didn't really want to fight. I smirked since I knew that I had him.
But before we could get into anything more than a staring match, the refs tried to separate us. "Come on. We got a game to play."
I stayed silent. I didn't want to make more work for Natalie. She seemed stressed out lately, and she didn't need me to say something stupid again and have it go viral for all the wrong reasons.
DeLoo was the one who skated away first, and then I went back to the bench.
As I skated that way, Carter said, "Good job there. Nice to see you join the goal celebration."
I smirked as I accepted the high fives.
The second line went out to do the next faceoff, but it was really just a way to kill the last few seconds of the period.
As we waddled to the locker room, I felt the tap. Which meant that I was going to be the one doing the interview. Which wasn't really that surprising. Between having the shelter kids here and scoring, I was the natural person to do it.
I tossed my gloves into my bucket before kicking it off to the side. Lutzy tossed me a towel. I rubbed my face and hair, trying to get some of the sweat off. That way, I didn't look like a total twat.
That's when I got the headset with the microphone handed to me. I slipped it on and waited. Then came over Amber Marques. I smiled but didn't say anything since she was clearly listening to the voice from her earpiece. I leaned in and heard that they were cueing out from the segment asking for people to donate to the shelter and how I invited everyone to the game.
I hoped the fans came through.
Then Amber smiled. "Ready?"
I nodded.
Tom lifted up his camera. With his free hand, he counted down from three, two, one.
Amber immediately said, "Well, speaking of Spencer Sukuzi's crew, we got the man of the hour."
That was not a comment I was used to hearing. I smiled since I didn't get too many compliments like that. I just played a hard game, and I played rough. Sure, I would pick up a fair amount of goals since Carts and I played so well off each other.
"So, Spencer, why don't you let us know how the goal happened?"
"It was one of those plays that come when you don't quit. You gotta keep going in after every rebound and just get it in."
"Of course. That's always been one of your strengths. You don't quit."
"Even though it's early on in the season, you can't ever quit. The league is too quick and too good if you have a bad game or a bad night."
Amber smiled, but you could tell she didn't love how cliche I was with my words. At least the interview was almost done, and I could have a few minutes to myself with the guys in the locker room.
"Any other passing words for us?"
"Please donate to your local women's shelters. They are doing so much good work in helping out families in difficult situations."
I hoped that was enough to get Natalie and the team off my back about having to share all the work I do with the shelters. I just wanted to play hockey and make love to my girl.