Look for Me in Rainbows

Maggie skated out onto the ice for her first game. She wished Patrick was here to watch her. She was going to ask him to come. She knew he was there to get better. She felt selfish for wishing he was here and not in rehab. She refocused on the game as it was about to start. The third line, Rosie’s line was sent out to take the first face off.

Maggie, sat on the bench watching intently. She followed the puck and analyzed how the other team played and made a game plan for her shift. Her ability to adjust to the way other teams played and to put pressure on them earned her her spot on their top line.

One of the Buffalo held the puck behind their own goal, giving the perfect opportunity for a line change. Maggie flew off the bench and into the defensive zone to receive a pass from behind the net. Maggie led the puck into the offensive zone where she passed it to the right winger #12 Annie Zimmerman. Annie passed it back to Maggie. She noticed that #16 on the other team was weaker on her left side. Maggie shot the puck to the left of the girl and it connected with the center, #20 of the Flames, Stacey Lackey. Stacey cycled down to the boards and handed it off to #45 Gabi Hines, who faked a shot, and sent the puck up to the other defenseman #87 Jillian Ansley, who shot a slap pass to the other defenseman, #56 Maggie Wilson. Maggie took a huge slapshot. It went top shelf, right over the goalie’s catching glove. Goal.

The Buffalo on the ice attacked Maggie. Maggie highfived the girls on the bench. She sat down, but then she started coughing. Coughing uncontrollably. She stood up and walked to the tunnel that led to the locker rooms and coughed until she finally stopped, gasping for breath. She shuddered and headed back to the bench. Her coach caught her eye as she sat down. Maggie shook her head head at him. That was the universal signal for “I’m fine, just put me back in soon.” The first period ended and the score was 1-0 in favor of the Buffalo.

Maggie was an aggressive player. She was a great checker, and she wasn’t afraid to mix it up with another player. She just never threw the first punch. She skated out for her next shift. Maggie got the puck and passed it to Stacey who broke for the net, but she didn’t see #54 from the Divas who stripped the puck from her. Maggie skated backwards to cover her, when #54 took a dive over Maggie’s stick. The referee’s whistle blew, and the play stopped.

“Number 56. Two minutes for hooking.” He pointed Maggie to the box.

“She took a dive ref! Thats an awful call!” She shouted at him. “Its called embellishment. The penalty’s on her, not me!” The ref shook his head at her. She skated to the penalty box. “Goddamnit!” She kicked the boards as she stepped into the box. She slouched in her seat to serve her time.

She watched the clock and waited for the door to open and let her out. Her one goal was to get open as soon as the she got out and get a long pass and hopefully a one on one scoring chance. She stood up and the door opened. She burst out full speed. Jillian sent her the pass she had been waiting for. She stick handled the puck left then right then back to her left side, and slid the puck right between the goalie’s legs. She got her revenge. 2-0. Maggie was, again, attacked by her team mates. She headed back to the bench as the buzzer sounded to end the second period.

In the third period, Maggie played shorter shifts because of the lead, but #32 Sarah Johnson scored off a one timer off of a face off. The third period ended in a 3-0 win for the Buffalo. Their goalie, #70 Natalie Clark had the first shutout of the season, in the first game of the season. The team was ecstatic as they were undressing and showering in the locker room.

When everyone was changed back into their dress clothes, the coach, Adam Schiller, came in to talk to the team. “Nice win, ladies.” I’ll see you on the ice tomorrow morning at seven. We’ll talk about what we need to work on then.” The girls grabbed their bags and headed out of the locker room. “Wilson, hang back a sec.” Maggie walked over to him. “I know that I’ve been your coach on this team for a long time, but you know, just tell me if you’re not okay. I want you to be able to play, but I want you to be healthy and safe too”

“Gotcha, Coach.” Maggie said. She didn’t like having people worry about her health and safety. She could do that all by herself.

Notes