[ O C E A N  E Y E S ]

❛ state finals ❜

[ S T A T E  F I N A L S  G A M E ]

          EVERYTHING WENT BY SO QUICKLY, I remember being the worst Peewee team in the district and now we were actually going to state finals against one of the strongest most hated team in the league. I was lined up facing the Hawks. It was tense. It was the final straw to prove who was the greatest team in Peewee hockey. Glances were being made at one another, even some frightful comments were being made from each team to each member. I stood in front of Adam and all I could see from the corner of my eyes are glares and smirks coming from his two former teammates and friends. The national anthem goes off and the entire arena starts singing along. After it finishes, the crowd goes wild as the games have just begun.

"Let's go. All right!" Bombay yells getting us pumped and ready for our chance of winning. Both teams were on their separated benches and the crowd kept getting louder and louder as we were discussing game plans. The Hawks side of the crowd were chanting their classic selfish cheer which was the 'win!' cheer.

"Okay, Ducks, let's get fired up! Come on, let's get fired up!" Bombay yells through the loud whooping. He gathers everyone's hands and began our chant.

"Quack, quack, quack..." he begins and soon everyone on our side of the crowd does the same thing, making it louder and clearer.

"Go... Ducks!" we break and head off to the ice. Our side goes crazy and the Hawks side starts booing us. I was on the bench for the start. I was about to take my seat when I see Jesse approach Banks before he skates off to his position on the ice.

"Hey, Banks... Don't forget what side you're on," Jesse warns him.

"He's a Duck, Jesse. And he'll play like a Duck," Bombay assures him before patting him to go to his position. Banks get to the center, he was facing McGill. Everything was running smoothly until the puck was dropped and Banks took a quick tackle by Larson and McGill. The puck was luckily on our side. Reily was cheering on for the rough ways his team was playing. Everybody on the Ducks kept falling. The entire bench was on their feet, yelling directions to our teammates on the ice. Banks shoots it up to the hot zone as the Hawks grabs it and continues their strong play. They were good but the Ducks managed to steal the puck from them as they got to our side of the goal. Banks headed towards the other teams' goal when he was knocked down against the wall. My eyes travel to the puck right in the Hawk's hands. They shoot and score. I sigh loudly in defeat as the scoreboard changes from 0-0 to 1-0. The Hawks side goes crazy but that didn't mean we were gonna give up.

We were so close to scoring when the Hawks kept pushing and making us fall. McGill and Larson were charging away with the puck. Goldberg goes up thinking he was going to be able to save it but instead he falls on his butt leaving the goal empty for anyone to score and that's what the Hawks did. Hopes for us actually winning this game was slowly going away. Now, the Hawks were leading with 2-0. I was still on the bench cheering for my team.

Goldberg finally saved a goal "Good save, Goldberg!" Bombay exclaims from the stands. I think that triggered something from our team to start hustling even more but that meant more attacks coming from the Hawks. We couldn't clear it out so of course, the Hawks took it once again and scored. This day just keeps getting worse and worse. The first period only has a minute left and the Hawks were already leading with 3-0.

After the end of the first period, Bombay gathered us all making his speech face "Don't be scared of them, Ducks. That's what they want. Keep your heads up. Play proud. Let's fly!" Bombay excitedly yells getting us pumped.

"Yeah!" we all screamed getting every single thought and emotion out.

"Come on, let's go!" Bombay encourages. The second period starts and I'm still on the bench. The puck is set down and Hawks win the draw but is quickly taken back by Charlie. Charlie passes it to Banks and I've never seen Banks with so much determination. He was running on the ice like nothing else mattered except for this once score. McGill approaches behind him and knocks him down. Adam and the puck go flying into the goal. Although, he scored and everyone went crazy something felt wrong. I know I wasn't supposed to do it but at this moment my head was taking control of my body. I jump over the fence and skated towards Adam's unconscious body. Larson is quick to follow behind me.

"Adam. Adam, are you okay?" I ask but no response was returned.

"What'd you do?" Larson scoffs still having a heart for Adam.

"My job," McGill simply shrugs.

"Okay, we're gonna get them in," the ref says "Get the paramedics in. He's injured. Up out of the way now."

I breathing becomes heavier as the paramedics were being called. I stayed by Adam's side until they came in and so did Larson "Come on in there," the ref says pointing to Adam's body.

"Number 7, McGill, cross-checking. 2 minutes," the ref yells dragging McGill to the penalty box. The paramedics helped me and Larson up to move out of the way so they could safely get Adam's body onto the gurney. Bombay made his way over and some of the Ducks came along with him.

"Did it go in?" he asks looking up my way.

"Yeah," I smile holding onto his hand.

"Jesse, do me a favor. Kick some Hawk butt," Adam's voice croaks.

"All right, cake eater," Jesse smirks. Everyone skated and I was about to when my name was called.

"Alex!" the faint voice yells quietly.

I skate back to Adam's tired body "Yeah?"

Adam takes a breath and holds out his hand. He shakes it telling me to grab onto it, I did so and he began talking "Remember that time I was gonna ask you something..."

"Let's go, kid," the paramedics scold.

"How about you ask me after we kick some Hawk butt?" I chuckle. I slowly let go of his hand but stop midway to do something. My head leans down towards Adam and gently my lips place a soft kiss on his cheek. Before he could respond, I skate away with the hope of this win in my head. I headed towards my team as we waited for Bombay to return, he stops in front of the Hawks bench and gives them a piece of his mind before coming back to us.

"Let me go after 'em, coach. Let me get 'em," Fulton argues. Soon everyone follows with the same argument but was quickly shut down by coach.

"No, we're better than that. Look," Bombay says trying to get everyone's attention, soon the entire team goes quiet and listens to the coach "Look, it's time to play smart hockey, Duck hockey. All right? Now we got the power play. We're gonna hit 'em where it hurts the most... up there."

The team encourages that idea "Fulton, you're in," Bombay says.

"Coach, they'll be rushin' him," Averman informs.

"Right," Bombay thinks for another moment "Jesse, make sure you give Fulton plenty of time."

"Right, coach," Jesse smirks.

"Jesse, do good," someone yells from the team.

"Let's go!" Bombay claps his hands pumping up the team once again.

"Yeah!" we all cheer alongside him.

"Hold it! Wait! Whoa!" Bombay stops us to remind us something "Let's have fun out there."

Everyone cheers and then goes to their positions. I'm on the ice this time with Fulton and the others. I was on the other side of Fulton when I hear Bombay yell from the stands "Get the face-off!" The puck is set down and the period begins. We get it and Fulton does not move from his position which was the game plan. To get Fulton the clear shot.The rest of the players and I on the ice were clearing the way as best as possible, knocking a few of them down along the side. I take a look up from my attack to see Fulton winding. He shoots and the puck goes flying and so does the players it was flying towards. The puck lands onto the goalie's gear and he falls back into the goal which means we just gained another score. Everyone goes graciously wild on our side while the Hawks side is groaning. We skate back to the stands and the other players gather in for a group hug. There was so much chaos and cheering that I could barely think or to be honest, hear.

Another round has started and everyone on the ice was racing for the puck. The puck moves along from player to player but soon weighed towards the Hawks and they were so close to the net. We couldn't get it out so the Hawks managed to score. The Hawks regained their two-goal lead. There was a break for coach to make yet another speech to get us to get this goal "Guys, guys, guys, listen up, listen," coach yells trying to get the teams attention but no one stopped their commotion.

"Ducks!" I yell and for some reason, that got their attention.

"Thank you, Alex," coach sends a smile along my way "We have got to stay fired up and focused, all right? It ain't over 'til it's over. Tammy, Tommy, Alex, let's show these Hawks something really different. Come on."

Coach Bombay begins planning out the layout for our next play and it was a perfect distraction. The third period begins and everything was set in place. Tammy and I's mission were to distract the Hawks with our figure skating skills on different sides of the net and then Tommy would pass me the puck. Tammy and I set our positions in front of the net and begin spinning like no other. I could feel all the eyes which means it was going to be a success "Now!" Tommy yells.

"Hey, look over there!" I yelled pointing at opposite side of me. The Hawks were so gullible, that they actually did what I said. Tommy swiftly passes the puck and I shoot. The buzzer goes off, meaning that we just scored another point. Tammy was skating in awe that she was part of the plan. I was skating back to the bench when I see Fulton get out. He stomps angrily towards McGill, grabbing him from behind and then throws him over the boards. I wore a shocked expression as he did so. The referee puts a stop to the fight before it becomes more.

"Game misconduct. You're outta here, son," the referee says.

"I'm off, coach," Fulton says skating away.

"He barely touched him," coach scoffs. Everything was going mediocre when suddenly coach yells out "Let's get a line change! Let's go!"

I jumped across the boards and my feet land on the ice. The team was hollering for those on the ice. Jesse had the puck and he was swinging it around back and forth until he approaches the back of our next.

"Flying V!" Bombay yells through the rowdiness. Jesse is soon joined by the other players and I forming the 'Flying V'. We move quick. Jesse has the puck in the end as the rest of us fights off the opposing team. Jesse goes straight from the center and scores. We were finally tied! I go up to Jesse and gather everyone in a group hug as we skate back to coach and them. The crowd is cheering as well as the rest of our team. This next goal would decide the championship. I was on the edge of my feet as I stood between the ice and bench. 23 seconds to go in the fourth quarter, everything is at stake. Everyone was on our side of the ice. People were being pushed down. The puck went back and forth between both teams. The Hawks get the puck, shoots but big save on Goldberg's part.

"Big save, Goldberg! We'll get 'em in overtime!" coach yells from the stands. We manage to get the puck. Averman passes it to Charlie and Charlie is full speed ahead.

"Let's go, Charlie!" I scream for my brother. He could win this for us! That's when a Hawk comes up behind him and hooks his stick onto Charlie's arm making Charlie fall to the floor.

"Hey! Where's the call?" coach argues. The clock runs out of time but the referee is calling it in. I excitedly jump for joy about the call. However, on the other side, nothing looked too happy because they know whoever gets this shot and scores means they lose, which will be the first time in years.

Everyone crowds around Bombay "All right, Ducks, whos' gonna take it?"

"I think Guy should take it," Connie voices.

"Of course you do," I whisper teasingly into her ear. She quickly punched me.

"Me?" Guy asks. The teams start agreeing with the idea except for me.

"What about Charlie?" I suggest.

The team disagrees with me but coach sees the idea in mine "Let's let him finish what he started."

"Coach, Alex, we have a chance to win," Charlie complains.

"Damn straight we do. Come here," coach pulls Charlie to the side and begins having a conversation of their own. Charlie skates off with a big smile on his face. He was going to actually do it. The team cheers for him as does the crowd.

I grab onto my brother's hand before he goes off and wins for us "You can do it." Charlie smizes at my encouraging words before skating off to the distant. The tension was strong. The team begins to chant Charlie's name and soon everyone else joins in. The whistle goes off and Charlie skates around readying himself. As soon as Charlie's stick touched the puck, everything felt like it was in slow motion. Charlie inched closer to the net. Charlie nails the triple deke and scores! We won! We actually won championships. I'm screaming and immediately run to my brother on the ice. He skates towards the middle and everyone starts to celebrate the win.

Charlie embraces me into a hug "I knew you could do it," I chuckle into his chest. Another pair of arms makes its way onto Charlie's figure and soon mine. It was Bombay, he gathers us into a hug before celebrating with the rest of us on the ice. Some of the audience members even came on to the ice to celebrate with us. I skate to Connie to give her a hug just in time to see her and Guy share their very first kiss! I look around and see Bombay and my mom share a kiss. I couldn't help but widen my smile. I felt like crying, it feels amazing. A man in a red coat walks onto the ice with a huge trophy. It looked magnificent. He presents coach with the trophy and Bombay gladly took it with the pride he held on his face. The crowd goes wild and starts chanting for the team. It felt like a dream come true if only Adam were here with us.