A few years back he took a girl to his hockey game. A storybook thing. She from California he from Washington. They met on a fishing boat school function studying ocean life. For two years they shared a long range romance. She flew here he flew there. Shared Valentines day. Each set a table and cooked a meal. But it had to end. He seldom dated after the mutual ending. She moved on we guess. Her loss. Last night there was a new girl, actually two coming to see him play. It came with a storybook ending.
Last week he had been named USPHL Star of the week. Not a small feat. This is Nation wide Premier hockey honors. The new friends had never been to a hockey game. Just like his old flame they were hollering his name. Only things were going badly. Fifty team shots on goal to 29 but one of theirs went in the net. Four minutes to play and the Ravens were down one goal. Three minutes left the Ravens finally scored. It was Ryan time. All game he was targeted, thrown with cheap shots into the boards. Most game double teams. Taunts, "Where is the star of the week?"
He was fighting back. Less than a minute to go he was possessed. Tossed the defenders aside like rag dolls. The goalee had been outstanding stopped the first shot. He took the puck from a defender and slammed it in the net. Arms in the air he raced up the ice and slid to his knees the winning goal. Center Ice he rose in one motion pointed to the two girls. Two fingers each hand this goal is for you. I saw him do this once before but I knew this time it was not for me./dandy