After all the kids left the locker room, I sat down on a bench with my head in my hands, regretting about being so hard on the team, yelling at Charlie, and upsetting Victoria.

While sulking and regretting, I got an idea to go see Hans, maybe he could give me some advice and some skates, I thought.

"That's exactly what I'll do," I mumbled and got up, I was on my way going to see Hans when it started snowing on my way to his shop.

Parking my car in the furthest parking spot, I walked up to the shop and around the back.

Hans was working on sharpening a pair of skates. I quietly opened the door to the shop, slipped in, then closed it.

Hans turned off the machine, "Gordon." He said while examining the blade of the skate.

"How did you know?" I asked. Maybe he saw me through the window coming around the back.

"At this time of night, you'd would always come through the back door." Hans turned around with his glasses on while holding the skate. "You'd spend hours watching me do this."

I stood in silence reminiscing on the memories, "Is this sharp enough?" Hans walked forward, sliding his finger over the blade, then wincing.

"Did you cut yourself?" I quickly walked over to him, concerned about his finger.

"No," He smiled, then chuckled. "You always used to fall for that."

"God, you morbid Hans." I joked and rolled my eyes.

"Well, I am Scandinavian." He added.

I sighed, "It's nice to see you."

"Sure, sure, sure," He reached over to turn the machine light off. "You probably thought I was dead."

I was taken for surprise at first by his comment, "No, I saw you at the game the other night." Reassuring Hans, he just sighed in disappointment. "Why didn't you come talk to me?"

"You were so busy screaming at the kids," He paused and sighed again. "I didn't want to spoil the moment." He walked off with the skate.

I stood in the backroom for a moment, then followed him out into the main shop area where Hans put the one skate next to the other on the wood counter, "Everything is the same." I sighed and looked around at the old shop with hockey gear and apparel everywhere. Old pictures and framed pictures of news clippings hung behind the counter.

Hans chuckled, "Well the game hasn't changed, so why should my store." I walked behind the counter over to Hans looking at the clippings and pictures.

"So how did you become a doctor-"

"Lawyer." I cut Hans off and corrected him.

"Ah, that's a shame." He replied.

"Well, I never lose a case." I half chuckled.

"That is not what I asked."

I looked at an old clipping of my loss, "I see you still have this up. Thanks a lot."

"It is important to remember the past," Hans replied.

"That was the worst moment of my life. That was the year my dad died." My face dropped.

"The two are not related."

"Well, it sure felt like they were." I let out a deep exhale.

Hans then pulled out a picture frame, "I found this not long ago." I took the frame from his hands and saw an old picture of Hans, my dad, and I.

Dad was holding me up while I held my trophy smiling, "I miss him." Putting the frame on the wood counter, I walked away slowly.

"You scored 198 goals that season," Hans stopped me. "It was a shame you quit." I never turned around.

"I could have been one of the bigs." My face drooped again.

"You really loved to play. You flew on the ice like you had your own connection with it," Hans reminded me of my skating days. "Do you remember when you would play on the ice, a little bit after dark until your father had to call you inside for the night?" Turning around, Hans slowly walked over towards me.

"That was all I wanted to do. All I wanted was to play on the ice." I never looked at him.

"Then why did you stop?" Hans asked, I never answered. "Riley?"

"Yeah, all he wanted was to win. Win at everything." I sighed again.

"Then show them, Gordon!" He smiled. "Teach them how to play, show them how to have fun," He paused, then I looked up at him. "Teach them to fly." Hans looked at me like he knew I understood.

"They'll remember everything they've learned, even long after they stop buying skates from me." Hans motivated me, which made me think of Victoria trying to help and motivate the others.

"I don't know Hans." I looked back down at the ground, letting out a sigh again.

"That Victoria girl you have at your side," Hans started which made me look up. It was like he was reading my mind. "She's a fighter. She wants the best for the team. Even though I haven't seen her skate-"

I cut Hans off, "I don't think she can skate."

"Well, whatever it may be. She wants to help you, Gordon. I can see that fierce fiery look in her eyes. She knows hockey. She wants to play hockey, Gordon, but maybe there is more to her than not being able to skate."

"Maybe." I nodded.

"Take her on as an assistant coach," Hans suggested.

"But I've never heard of a kid being an assistant coach." Crossing my arms, I looked for an explanation.

"That is why you'll be the first, Gordon!" He pointed, then smiled. "Your first Junior Assistant Coach,"

"Maybe." I rubbed the bridge of my nose.

"Maybe you'll even learn a thing or two from her and maybe she'll learn something from you too."

"But all I've taught those kids is how to cheat and loose."

"Then guide them, Gordon! Guide them to success!" He smiled, then took the skates from the counter and held them out to me.

"What's this?" I raised my brow.

"They're sharpened, laced, and ready to go. Your new skates." I chuckled at how he read my mind. "That is why you came here tonight and I figured 9 ½ was your size."

"I'm actually a 9." I corrected Hans, shrugging my shoulders a bit.

"Wear thick socks, Gordon. Enjoy them." I took the skates from Hans and carried them together in one hand.

"Thanks, Hans." I smiled, then walked out from behind the counter, to the front doors of the shop.

Hans stopped me before I left, "Please bring Victoria and the team over some time, I would love to meet them."

I turned to face him with a smile, "Don't worry. I will." I pushed open the wooden doors and went out to the parking lot to drive to the pond and skate.

When getting to the pond, I changed from my suit into a sweatshirt and sweatpants. Going outside into the cold winter air, I sat on a bench near the pond, putting on my skates.

Lacing up the last skate, I stomped the ice a few times to make sure my foot was properly fitted into the skate, then stood up. I took a deep inhale and exhale of the chilly air, then started skating out. I did a few laps first then started into getting into the nitty-gritty stuff, I skated back and forth, quickly changing my direction, the blades of the skates scratching the surface of the ice, shaving some off the top.

I was truly alive on the ice. My hardshell cracked and flaked away, the true me came out. I was truly happy for once. Skating over to the edge of the pond, I laid down in a blanket of snow, skates still on the ice, hands on my chest, staring up at the night sky.

The memory of me skating on this same pond flashed in my mind. I was practicing hockey, using a tipped over empty trash can as my goal. My blue and white scarf wrapped around my neck, my nose and cheeks cherry red like Santa Clause. Slinging the puck into the trash can, hitting the back.

"Bombay scores! He does it again! What a guy!" I threw my hands in the air with my hockey stick in one. "Is there anything that he can't do?" I smiled before my dad called me over.

"How 'bout we go in?" He fixed my scarf.

"Just a little longer," He looked at me. "Please?" I pleaded with a smile.

"Alright," He chuckled. "Get outta here." He playfully pushed me back onto the ice.

I smiled at the beautiful memory I thought I'd forgotten, then sat up. I needed to go apologize to Charlie and Vic, I needed them on the team.

Getting up, unlacing my skates, and going back to my car, I drove to Charlie's apartment. Stepping out of my car, I walked upstairs and stopped at a door, pulling out a piece of paper from my jacket pocket to check if I was at the right door, I knocked. I waited for a minute but there was no answer, then I knocked again and the door cracked open.

"What do you want?" Ms. Conway asked.

Sighing I gave a small smile, "I came by to apologize to Vic, Charlie, and you."

Ms. Conway tried to close the door, but I stopped her, "Oh so now you're doing door to door mistreatment now?" She said sarcastically.

"No, I realized that I need them." My voice was in embarrassment from admitting I needed them.

She then opened the door and held out her arm, "Come on in." I slowly walked into the apartment, looking around, Ms. Conway shut the door behind me.

"Charlie! Vic sweetie! There's someone here to see you!" She called out to the two kids who came running out and stopped in the doorway of the living room, their faces dropped.

"What do you want?" Vic snapped and crossed her arms.

"I wanted to talk to you guys," Then I looked at Ms. Conway. "Alone please." She nodded her head and walked into the other room. The three of us sat down. "Look it was very wrong on my end to ask you guys to cheat. I never wanted to hurt you two. I was angry, frustrated, irritated, but it took a lot of guts to do what you thought was right, Charlie and I just wanted to tell both of you that I um," I stuttered.

"Your sorry." Ms. Conway finishing, she obviously was listening in on our conversation.

"I'm sorry alright," I said towards the wall she was hiding behind.

"I promise to both of you," I looked at the two kids. "That this time around, it'll be a lot more fun."

Charlie nodded his head, "Do ya wanna stay for dinner?"

"Charlie!" Ms. Conway ran out into the living room with her hands on her hips.

"Ah, no, I can't," I stuttered, then thought about it for a minute. "What are you having?" Ms. Conway smiled.

"Leftover casserole," Charlie replied.

"Sounds delicious!" I smiled while standing. "Before I forget, I need to talk to Vic for a moment."

"Ok.." She replied in an uneasy voice, then stood up walking for the door. We both then stepped out.

"Victoria, I am truly sorry. I don't think words can express how truly sorry I am for yelling at you." I sighed. Victoria was looking down at the floor, and she was crying. "There wasn't anything you did wrong," She nodded her head. "I did want to ask you something though."

"Ya," She sniffed. "And what's that?"

"At the past games, an old friend of mine came and asked me about you since I went to his shop after the game. He told me that you have a fire in your eyes. A will for playing hockey, playing on the ice, determination, you put others happiness before your own. You want the team to succeed, Victoria," I smiled. "You want to play hockey. You want to have fun. You want success."

Victoria said nothing, but Charlie opened the door, popping his head out, "You have to accept it, Vic!" Charlie smiled.

Victoria's face lit up while wiping away her tears, "Charlie!" She laughed. "Just because your mom can eavesdrop on us doesn't mean you can eavesdrop on us!"

"Well I'm sorry Vic, but you have to take this! I've never heard of anything like this!?" Charlie opened the door all the way then Victoria looked up at me.

"Coach," She looked back and forth between Charlie and I. "I forgive you and accept your proposal," She held out her hand. "Coach." She smiled and I shook her hand.

"Pleasure doing business with you, Coach," I smirked at her little Godfather-like gesture, we stared at each other and shook hands for a minute then

Charlie dragged the two of us inside to eat dinner and break the news to his mother. Then Victoria's mother walked in the door from work and Victoria broke the exciting news to her as we all sat and ate dinner together. Then I discussed the idea of going to go hockey shopping for the team if I get Mr. Ducksworth to sponsor the team.

"So that means new everything? Including custom jerseys?" Charlie asked while eating the leftover casserole.

Smiling, I nodded at Charlie, "Yes, new equipment, skates, gear, jerseys, everything we could possibly need."

"Well, where are you going to get the money from?" Ms. Reed asked me.

"Well," I sighed and placed my silverware down. "I'll go to my boss, Ducksworth,"

"The lawyer? You're a lawyer?" Ms. Reed raised her brow.

"Yeah, it's a complicated story but he'll understand," I reassured the four of them.

"This plan is gonna be sick!" Charlie smiled and high-fived Victoria from across the table.

"Thanks, Coach," Charlie smiled at me.