“Starting at left wing, Number 18, Kyla ‘The Fire’ Woodson!”
Kyla skated to the center line and slapped her teammates’ hands. She was back on the forward line with Mackenzie and Bethany, the way it should be.
A loud cheer burst from the stands. Kyla glanced over to see her mom and Tom, waving wildly. Her dad sat next to them, giving her a big smile and thumbs up.
Tonight was Kyla’s last chance to show Coach Rafferty that she was cut out for the varsity team. She vowed to skate her best and focus on one play at a time. The Fire was back.
It wasn’t going to be an easy game, though. The Comets defense had a reputation for being fast, and they were excellent stick handlers. The Ice Storms forwards would have to work their hardest to make any goals.
“Offensive line, you need to be on the lookout,” Coach Adams reminded the girls as they gathered around her for the pre-game pep talk.
“We will, Coach,” Kyla said. She caught Mackenzie’s eye. Mac gave her a smile and a nod. They were both ready to tear up the ice.
The two teams got into place for the starting face-off. The puck dropped. Bethany instantly grabbed it and sent the puck flying across the ice to Kyla.
Kyla moved to the left edge of the rink. A defender trailed close behind. Suddenly, the other girl came up on Kyla’s right and pushed her into the boards.
Hold on to the puck. Stay focused, Kyla told herself as the defender’s stick jammed against hers.
Tightening her grip, Kyla pressed her right elbow against the defender to keep her back. Then, in one swift movement, she twisted her body and spun away from her opponent. She sailed away, puck still in her control.
Kyla heard the cheers of the Ice Storms crowd as they saw her come away with the puck. Curving around the back of the goal cage, she brought the puck in front of the goal. She could see Mackenzie skating up behind her.
Just then, Kyla spotted a Comets defender coming up on her left. She lifted her stick just slightly and zoomed forward, leaving the puck behind for a drop pass.
Mackenzie didn’t miss a beat. She snatched up Kyla’s pass, quickly launching the puck into the net. The goal siren blared.
As the announcer called her name on the assist, Kyla heard Tom shout, “Look out for the Fire!”
Kyla raised her stick and grinned. The Ice Storms were up 1–0.
Let’s keep it that way, she thought.
* * *
At the beginning of the second period, the Comets were fired up. They were fighting hard to even the score. Two minutes in, the Comets already had six shots on goal. Ana knocked each one back.
But in the final few minutes of the period, a Comets forward charged the goal and made a powerful slapshot. The puck flew past Ana. The teams were now tied 1–1.
In the locker room between second and third periods, Coach Adams gathered the girls around. “I don’t want another tied game, Ice Storms,” she told them. “We have to keep our heads in the game, and go for the win!
Kyla wiped the sweat from her forehead and focused on Coach Adams’s words. Her legs ached, but she knew she needed to keep giving it her all during the third period.
As the girls filed back into the rink, Kyla realized she’d hardly given Coach Rafferty a thought throughout the game — or Tom for that matter. Her head had been where it should have been all along — in the game.
Kyla nudged Ana’s shoulder as they took the ice. “Keep up the saves, Gonzales,” she said, grinning at her friend.
“And keep dodging the defense, Woodson,” Ana replied. “We can win this.”
“No,” Kyla said. “We will win this.”
* * *
Both teams came out of the break feeling energized, and the third period ticked by with lots of back-and-forth action. But no one was scoring.
Kyla sat on the bench. She drummed her fists on her knees as she watched Tamika, Ali, and Mandi fight to make a goal. But the Comets defense was staying strong.
I need to be out there, Kyla thought.
With a minute to go, Kyla got her wish. Coach Adams called for a final line change.
Kyla immediately leaped from the bench and over the boards. A minute to win it, she thought, racing across the ice to the action.
A Comets offensive player was moving the puck along the boards near the center line. Shay zoomed in for the defense. She slapped the puck away from the Comets offense and launched it across the ice.
The puck skittered across the blue line into the offensive zone. It was a dump-and-chase play. Shay had dumped the puck into Comets territory, and now the Storms attackers had to chase it.
Kyla went for it. She pumped her legs hard, skating faster than she ever had before. She reached the puck and brought it before the goaltender, who was waiting on high alert.
Multiply your concentration. Tom’s words echoed in her brain. Kyla knew the goalie was ready. And she knew Mackenzie was coming up on her right.
Kyla slapped the puck to Mackenzie and skated left. Mac knocked the puck back to her. Before she even had time to think, Kyla caught the puck and sent it sailing into the right corner of the net. Goal!
“Yes!” Kyla shouted. She held up her stick in triumph as the goal siren blared and the crowd cheered.
Mackenzie rushed toward her and caught her in a spinning hug. “See? I knew we’d make a great team!” Mac exclaimed, panting for breath.
Kyla laughed. “We do!” she agreed.
As the announcer called her name for the goal, Kyla glanced into the stands, where her parents and Tom sat. Her dad high-fived her mom, and then he high-fived Tom too. Kyla gave them all a big grin before focusing back on the game.
In the final seconds, the Comets pulled their goalie and subbed in another attacker. But even with the extra player, they couldn’t score a goal.
The buzzer blared, signaling the end of the game. The Ice Storms piled onto the ice. “Great goal, Fire!” the girls shouted as they crowded around her.
Ana almost tackled Kyla with a hug. “You were amazing!”
“Thanks! You too!” Kyla shouted above all the noise. She was both beaming and blushing under the attention from all her teammates.
But someone was missing. Kyla looked around for Mac. She spotted her at the edge of the rink, standing with Coach Rafferty. Just then, the coach looked up and saw Kyla. She waved her over.
Ana noticed Coach Rafferty too. She smiled and gave Kyla a nudge. “Go get ’em, Fire.”
Kyla’s heart thumped loudly, but this time it wasn’t just from being completely exhausted. She felt like she was skating on air as she made her way to the coach.
Kyla skidded to a stop next to Mac. The teammates exchanged excited grins, then turned toward the coach.
“That was a great game, Kyla,” Coach Rafferty started. ”Way to use that passion.”
“Thanks, Coach,” Kyla replied breathlessly. Her tired legs shook as she waited for Coach Rafferty to continue.
The coach looked at both players and grinned. “Now, I wanted to talk to you two ladies about varsity . . .”