What Makes Me Feel Alive
Seeing that puck cross the goal line with the crowd starting to erupt, then going and cellying with the boys, that’s what makes me feel alive. I remember scoring my very first goal and the thrill it gave me when that puck crossed the goal line. The thrill of my first hat trick, going down on one knee and cellying so hard embracing the moment. When I scored 5 Goals in one of my high schools games last year it felt surreal and made me feel amazing. Seeing that puck cross the goal line with the crowd starting to erupt, then going and cellying with the boys, that’s what makes me feel alive.
Early Sunday morning in Billerica Mass, The Reading squirt 1’s are playing Billerica. This was my first year of hockey and we are a couple of games into the season and I have yet to score my first ever goal in a hockey game. I remember receiving the puck in the high slot with no one around me, one on one with me and the goalie and I shoot it five hole and it slides in. I remember the thrill of joy I received turning to my right and going down on one knee and celebrating it was amazing.
Middle of the afternoon on a Saturday in Methuen Mass. I had a game against methuen before and I knew this was my rink. I just played well there and my last time playing there I scored two goals and came so close to my first career hat trick. When the game started I knew it was the day, I was buzzing playing great hockey. I got my first goal, then my second and I was just waiting till I got my third. The third period started and after a couple of shifts in I got it. Seeing that puck cross the goal line and knowing I just achieved something I dreamed of, it was surreal. I remember everyone coming over to me congratulating me and one of my teammates going to get the puck for me so I could have it. I still have the puck today next to all my other hockey memorabilia.
The second game of the season, coming of a big win against Hingham and already got a goal under my belt from scoring the first one of the season. This game was surreal. I scored on my very first shift beating the defender wide and receiving a beautiful pass from my line mate right on the tape. Then having a puck bounce out to me at the top of the circle and firing it top left for my second. To burying a lose in front of the net and not knowing if I scored it or another person. My teammate made a move by the defense man and we came in on a two on one and he slide it over to me and I one timed in top shelf and turned and went right down and did my celly thinking I either have four goals right now or that was my first career hat trick in high school. Then with about 7 minutes left in the third my teammate bumps a pass out to me on the side of the net and I slide it in. I remember thinking wow I just scored my fifth goal, I have never done this before. All my teammates coming over to me congratulating me saying are you kidding me that’s your fifth. After going down the line and getting on the bench the coach sat me and said I have enough, I think the real reason was he didn’t want me to break the record because he also had five goals in a game back in his high schools days playing for the same team.
Seeing that puck cross the goal line with the crowd starting to erupt, then going and cellying with the boys, that’s what makes me feel alive. Scoring a goal is an amazing feeling, everyone looking at you people cheering, it is something I truly cherish because who knows when you are scoring your last goal ever in competitive hockey. I enjoy every moment when that puck crosses the goal line because the thrill, the cheers and the glory are like no other.
