The locker room was quiet. Everyone was focusing on what had to be done. They had a game to play, a national championship. Guy had never been in a situation like this. He was a freshman playing division one hockey for the Minnesota Golden Gophers, there was already enough pressure on him.

“Hit the ice, boys, let's get a good warm up in, let's go let's go!” coach said quickly as he stepped in then back out of the locker room all in one motion. 

As soon as they stepped on the ice, the arena went crazy. The ear piercing cheer from the crowd stunned Guy as he circled the ice.

“This is the most people I've ever seen at one of our games before,” Guy said as he gazed into the crowd.

“What’d you expect, it's the national championship,” said Conway calmly. “But don't let that get to your head. We’re here to play hockey,”

Guy nodded his head as he continued to stretch alongside the boards. He couldn't believe it, playing in the national championship his freshman year. There was a lot on the line at this moment, and he didn't want to ruin it for his team. He could hardly focus as he headed back to the locker room after warm ups. You could tell he was nervous.

“Hey, don't worry about it, bud, just go out there and play your game just like you always do every game,” Banks said. “Alright?  Just don't worry about it, just play your game,”

Guy nodded his head as he continued to stare into the ground. He knew he had to step it up this game. This is what he and his team spent all year getting ready for. He took a quick glance around the around the room, looking at the faces of his teammates. He noticed the fierceness in the faces of most of the seniors. This would be their last game as a Golden Gopher. 

“Alright, boys, this is it. We gotta own this game, this championship is ours to take. For a few of you, it's gonna be your last chance to take it. There won't be no next year or next season. This is it. Let's go out there and play our game.”

The team returned to the ice, removed their helmets for the singing of the national anthem, then started the game. The Gophers won the opening face-off, and brought the puck deep into the offensive zone. There were few solid hits and a small scrum ensued in front of the net just after the referee blew his whistle. Minnesota versus North Dakota, one of the biggest rivalries in college hockey, and Guy was right in the middle of it.

Guy hopped the bench and stepped on the ice for his first shift of the game. Once again his team won the face-off. The puck came back to his defensive partner, Portman, and he slid it across to Guy. The puck hit Guy’s stick and he fumbled with it for a second, and then brought his head up to shoot it, but by then it was too late. The North Dakota forward was already coming at him at full speed and by the time Guy brought his head up, he was being sent to the ice by his opponent.

North Dakota picked up the puck and carried it into the zone on a two-on-one. The player made a quick pass to his teammate who one-timed the puck. Goldberg pushed across the crease to make a big save with his glove.  The ref blew the whistle and Guy skated back to the bench.

“Averman!”coach yelled to him. “Get your head out of your ass, play hockey,”

Guy took a drink from a water bottle then slammed it to the ground. It was a tough first period but Minnesota was able to hang in there. North Dakota dominated, getting a total of 12 shots on goal to Minnesota’s five, but the score remained even at zero. 

“Alright, boys, we gotta pick it up here,” coach told everyone in the locker room. “We gotta get the puck out of our zone, no more fancy passes or fancy breakouts, off the glass and outta the zone, okay? And when we do get the puck in their zone, shoot it! If you have the shot, take it! Don't try to force a pass through sticks, okay?  Alright, now let's go get ‘em,”

Guy strapped on his helmet, grabbed his stick, and stepped back onto the ice for the start of the second period.  Minnesota started off the first half of the period strong, controlling the puck deep in the zone.  But as the period progressed, North Dakota began to play better and better. It wasn’t until four minutes left in the period, North Dakota finally got on the board. 

The goal came from a hard, well-placed shot from the point. The puck quickly bounced off the goaltender’s pad and sat in the crease until it was slapped into the open net by a North Dakota player. Minnesota now trailed one to nothing going into the second intermission. Conway walked into the locker room, removed his helmet, and began to speak.

“Alright, boys,” Conway announced, “this is it. This could be our last 20 minutes of our season. That's all we got left to score just one goal. We've scored plenty of goals all year, and now we just need one. Let's get pumped here, boys!” Conway yelled as he swatted a bunch of water bottles off of a table. He then continued to pick up an empty garbage can and smash it onto the ground.

“Let's go, boys!” Banks yelled as the team returned the ice.

The referee blew his whistle, looked to the goalies, and dropped the puck to start the third and final period. It seemed to go by faster than the first two periods, with Minnesota dominating with the puck in North Dakota’s zone. While facing all of the opposing pressure, North Dakota was forced to ice the puck with five minutes left in the game. 

“Averman, Reed. Go,” coach called from the bench.

Guy and his defensive partner swiftly hopped the bench and lined up for the face-off. The referee dropped the cold, hard puck and it bounced back to guy. He winded up for a shot but quickly realized an open teammate behind the defenders. Guy sent a quick, hard pass to his teammate who was able to easily redirect it into the net.

A loud explosion from the crowd hit him as he celebrated with his teammates. Just like that, it was a tie game.  The tie carried itself throughout the rest of the period and to the start of overtime. 

Guy and Reed started on defense, with an offensive line including Conway, Banks, and Germaine. The referee dropped the puck and it didn't take long for Minnesota to regain control in the offensive zone. The three forwards repeatedly cycled the puck in the corner. The anxious chant from the crowd felt inspiring to Guy as the puck came back to him. He knew he had to put this game away.

Guy winded up, just as he had earlier in the game, but this time he followed through on the shot. The puck sailed from the blue line straight into the top right corner of the net. 

Guy tossed his gloves and stick up into the air as his teammates rushed towards him to celebrate. A booming cheer from the crowd shook the arena as Guy’s teammates mobbed him at center ice. Guy couldn't hear anything over the sound of the crowd, but as he brought his head up he saw something he and his team had only dreamed about...