Breaking The Ice

CHAPTER 11

Riley POV

By Friday night, the entire campus seemed to be wearing navy blue. Wolf Ridge jerseys filled the walkways leading toward Wolf Den Arena. Students painted wolf paws on their faces, music blasted from speakers outside the entrance, and the line to get inside wrapped halfway around the building.

"This is insane.” I adjusted the strap on my equipment bag as Tyler walked beside me. He looked around the crowd and shrugged. "You get used to it.” He said nonchalantly. ”I don't think I will.” I said. ”You will.” Gray appeared between us as if summoned by the mention of his name. "No, she won’t." I blinked. “What?" I asked. Gray spread his arms dramatically toward the crowd. “This..." He gestured to the sea of students chanting. "...is controlled madness."

"It's school spirit," Tyler corrected. "It's loud.” Gray retorted. "It's hockey.” Tyler corrected again. "It's terrifying.” Tyler laughed at Gary before turning to me again. "You'll love it.” He said confidently. "I already love it.” Gray gasped. "She said it before I could.” Gray protested. "I don't know what that means.” I said. "Neither do I."

Connor walked past, shaking his head. "Ignore him.” He advised. "I've been trying.” I said, smiling and so did Connor. "It gets easier.” Gray pointed at him. "Lies."

Coach Reynolds clapped his hands from the tunnel entrance. “Wolves!" He barked and every conversation stopped. "Locker room.” The mood shifted instantly. The jokes disappeared. Everyone focused. Game mode turn on.

The atmosphere inside the locker room was completely different from the exhibition game. Nobody was nervous. Nobody was joking. Even Gray had gone quiet. Players taped sticks. Adjusted pads. Pulled jerseys over shoulder pads as the room filled with the familiar sounds of velcro, skate blades, and quiet concentration.

Coach stood in the middle of the room. "This one counts.” Nobody moved. "Every point matters.” His eyes swept across the room. "You've already shown people what kind of team you can be.” He paused. "Tonight you show them who you are.” Silence. Coach looked directly at me. “Bennett." He called. "Yes, Coach.” I answered automatically. "Play your game.” He didn't say anything else because he didn't need to.

The tunnel vibrated beneath our skates as the crowd stomped above us. I could actually feel it. The announcer's voice boomed through the arena. "Ladies and gentlemen…" The lights dimmed and the crowd erupted. “Welcome..." Blue spotlights swept across the ice.

“...YOUR..." The tunnel doors opened. "WOLF RIDGE WOLVES!"

The roar hit me like a wall. Thousands of people were on their feet. Cheering and shouting. Waving towels. My heart hammered against my ribs and I saw Tyler glance sideways to me. "You still breathing?” He asked. “Barely." I said honestly. "You'll be fine.” He said but it was easy for him to say.

Coach gave one final nod. “Go." We exploded onto the ice.

The opening period was chaos. The opposing team came hard from the first puck drop. Fast. Physical and disciplined. This wasn't an exhibition anymore. Every hit counted and every loose puck mattered. Halfway through the first period, I chased a dump-in behind our net. A forechecker closed fast. Instinct screamed at me to skate. Instead… I heard Jaxon's voice. “Reverse!" Without thinking, I banked the puck behind the net and Easton picked it up cleanly.

Connor was already flying through center as the breakout developed perfectly. A smile tugged at my lips. The system was becoming instinct.

A few shifts later, we found ourselves defending a five-on-three penalty kill. The arena had gone quiet. Everyone was standing. Watching and waiting with held breath. The opposing team's defenseman faked a slapshot. The puck moved cross-ice. One timer. Aaron Steele threw himself across the crease. The puck hit his blocker and bounced into the slot. Right toward their captain.

“No!" I launched myself across the crease. My stick reached the puck a split second before his did. It deflected harmlessly into the corner. The horn sounded, signalling the penalty was over and the crowd exploded.

As we skated toward the bench, Easton slammed his glove against my helmet. "Huge play.” Tyler pointed from the bench. "That's how you kill penalties!” Coach simply nodded once. Somehow… That felt even better.

The game remained scoreless heading into the third period. Coach gathered us during the break. "They're getting frustrated.” Connor nodded. "They're reaching.” He said. “Exactly." Coach looked at me and Easton. "Their defense is pinching too deep.” I immediately understood. "If we force a turnover…" I started. "They're exposed.” Easton finished for me. Coach smiled. "Good."

He looked at Jaxon. "Find her.” Jaxon didn't hesitate. "I will.” For some reason… Hearing him say that sent a strange warmth through my chest.

Seven minutes remained. Still tied. The arena buzzed with nervous energy. The opposing defenseman stepped up to keep the puck inside our zone. Too aggressively. Easton poked it free and the puck slid toward me. Coach's words echoed in my head. They're exposed. I looked up. Jaxon was already accelerating through center. He hadn't even looked back and I knew he trusted I'd see him. Without thinking, I fired a long stretch pass between two defenders. Tape to tape. Perfect. The crowd rose to its feet. Jaxon crossed the blue line with one defender left and cut inside. The defenseman bit. Connor crashed the far post and instead of shooting, Jaxon slid the puck across to Connor and he buried it.

The goal horn blasted through the arena. Students jumped from their seats as blue towels spun wildly overhead. Tyler tackled Connor into the glass. Easton grabbed my shoulders. "What a pass!” I could barely hear him over the crowd as I saw Jaxon skating straight towards me. For one terrifying second, I thought he'd forgotten who'd scored. Then he stopped in front of me. He pointed his stick toward me. "That pass.” He said and nodded once. "Beautiful."

Before I could answer, he pushed away to celebrate with the rest of the team. I stood there for a second. Blinking. He'd complimented my hockey. Not my effort. Not my determination. My hockey. Somehow… That meant even more.

The final buzzer echoed through Wolf Den Arena. Wolf Ridge 1. Riverside State 0. The students were still chanting as we lined up to shake hands. "You guys earned that one.” one of their players said quietly. I smiled. "So did you."

By the time we reached the locker room, Gray had already climbed onto one of the benches. "I have an announcement!” Connor groaned. "We just won.” He said. “Exactly!" Gray threw both arms into the air. "I therefore declare…" Coach walked in behind him. “...Walker." Gray froze. "...Yes, Coach?” Gray answered. ”Get off my bench.” Gray climbed down immediately. The entire locker room burst into laughter.

Coach looked around at all of us. His eyes rested briefly on me. Then on Jaxon. Finally, he smiled. “Now..." He folded his arms. "That's Wolf Ridge hockey.” For the first time since I arrived… I believed him.