Page 174 of Pucking Them
“Shit.” Robyn’s eyes are wet.
“Just watch,” I repeat.
D’Angelo’s legs look like they’re about to give out. His head is bent low. He lurches to the side, trying to escape Wilder’s weight.
D’Angelo still has the puck but he appears beaten.
One minute to go…
Shay is skating toward D’Angelo now, desperately attempting to back him up.
But not fast enough.
A second Penguins player, a defenseman — I bet anything that it is one of the bastards who assaulted D’Angelo in the shower — hits D’Angelo in the back, helping Wilder to pin him.
D’Angelo’s skates chatter against the boards.
Wilder and the rival defenseman grin at each other.
The fuckers.
As they relax, however, D’Angelo raises his head.
He’s grinning too.
To their shock, with incredible skilled balance, D’Angelo kicks the puck loose. Then he spins free from both the larger men, cutting through them. They fall forward, smashing into the glass.
Wilder shouts in disbelief.
The crowd roar in surprise and delight.
Shay is set up free in front of the goal.
He knew what D’Angelo was doing the same as I did.
Hewasconcentrating.
I’m proud of both of them. They bring out the best in each other.
“Wow.” Robyn is bouncing on her toes. “Yes.”
D’Angelo snaps a pass to Shay, who instantly shoots at the goal like he’s an extension of his captain.
The puck strikes the inside of the far post and slams into the net.
They’ve done it.
The crowd explodes in cheers and stomping. The sound bounces off the steel rafters. I wince, as the blasting goal horn and pulsing music from the speakers in celebration pierces through my head.
My pain doesn’t matter.
The Bay Rebels beat the Penguins.
D’Angelo and Shay have humiliated Wilder…again.
Wilder is standing, shocked. He stares at the puck in the net like he can’t work out how it ended up there.
Robyn hops up and down, wildly waving at D’Angelo. He gives a cocky wave back.
