Chapter 21

The next few weeks just past as a blur, taking part in the Stanley Cup playoffs every second night and we won each game as we went along, the final is due to start on Monday and we are yet to loose a game.

For the second year running we will be taking on the Detroit Red Wings in the final. Last year we went 2-0 down straight off and then went on to win the remaining 4 games. This year I think we can win it in 4.

As I take my seat at the bench in the Melon Arena I feel the pressure building, the fans are set for the series of a life time.

The lights dim, the entry music gets louder and my heart thumps harder. I think I am more nervous than the players. As they make their entry the crowd go mad, the fans all have such high expectations after the season and the playoffs so far. I really hope these boys don’t let the pressure get to them, a lot of them including Sidney are still so young.

Pressure – what pressure, these boys are sailing through this game like they are playing against the juniors , they have managed to get 6 goals past Chris Osgood and the 3^rd period has not even started yet.

“Well guys – I think for the first time since I met you all I am speechless. What a game….”

That night Sidney came back to mine, we had a couple of drinks to celebrate the good start to the final.

“Can I stay here tonight Gill?” Sidney asks.

“Of course you can, I was just thinking of heading to bed, if you are not ready to sleep yet feel free to make yourself at home and do what you like”.

I headed up the stairs alone and must of fell asleep as soon as my head it the pillow.

When I woke this morning I could hear Sidney gently breathing behind me so I turned round and watched him sleep. He is lying on his back with the sheets sitting just above his hips, his chest is bare and his hair even more curly than normal and he looks stunning and so peaceful.

I got up and headed down to the kitchen, although we have a game tomorrow we have no training today so I left Sidney to sleep.

As I am heading out to the pool after a small breakfast I hear Sidney padding down the stairs – the stairs in my house are stone so he must still be half asleep and forgot to put something on his feet to protect him from the cold of the stone.

I turn to wait for him coming through the door, as he pops his head through the doorframe he mumbles “good morning”, he still has his bed hair and only wearing a very fitted pair of boxer shorts, all I can say to him is “WOW!”

I went over to him and gave him a slow kiss and ran my hands down his chest and stopped on his hips. I wanted nothing more than to take him back up to the bedroom but he wanted to take things slowly so I left the bedroom antics to be initiated by him.

I pulled away but he pulled me back again and kissed me more passionately this time, he pushed his tongue against mine and I felt his manhood hardening against me. I wanted even more to take him back to the bedroom but instead he pulls away and says we will join me for a swim before breakfast. Although I am disappointed at the same time I am happy that he is waiting until he is ready, I don’t want him to feel forced into anything.

After our swim we had a pretty relaxing day. I decided that during the playoffs I was going to try and not go into the office.

Jordon Staal and Marc-Andre came round for a while to be checked over for any under lying injuries, I knew when they phoned that there was nothing wrong with them. I think they are just very nervous, after all they are just young lads, especially Jordon who is still only 20 years old and is already playing in his second Stanley Cup Final. That was something that not many 20 year olds could say, not even his 3 brothers who also play in the NHL.

Sidney stayed with me again tonight. I love curling up with him and falling asleep in his arms, I feel so safe when he holds me. I am glad that I have taken the chance and trusted him when he assured me that he was ready for a relationship, things have been great between us and we are both happy. We are still taking things slowly, after all this is the first relationship Sidney has been in so I don’t want to scare him.

Game 2 of the Stanley Cup final is upon us and the boys were on even more of a high than they were for game 1 and once again they did brilliantly, another shut out for Marc-Andre, he certainly is on the ball.

Game 3 arrived soon enough and once again we won. One more game to go hopefully until these boys get to lift the Stanley Cup again for the second year running.

Game 4 is due to begin and as I take my spot on the bench I feel myself getting more and more nervous. I know now that there is nothing more I can do, my job is done but I cannot help but feel for the guys who now have to put into practice what myself and the other trainers / coaches have taught them. The one thing no one can teach them is how to handle the pressure. I have so much belief in these guys, I know that they will do brilliantly.

Half way through the second period Marc-Andre took a bad knock and felt that he could not play the rest of the game without risk of making his injury worse – he knew that we had to take him off. Even if we did not win tonight we still had everything to play for. If we lost this game it meant that we could win game 5 in front of a home crowd instead of being in Detroit.

Therefore, we prepared our reserve goal tender Ty Conklin for the biggest game of his life and what a game he played. He managed to carry on Marc-Andres reputation and continued with the long running shut out record. He certainly done himself proud.

We scored an amazing 8 goals throughout tonight’s game and lifted the Stanley Cup with such pride.