Rising Star (Patrick Kane)

Chapter Eighty Two- We Are The Champions

Patrick

I sit on the bench as time ticks down in the third period. 17 second left. 17 seconds until we win the cup again. 17 seconds and Crow has a shut out in the Stanley cup final. 17 seconds and our name is written in the history books. Man that number has done us some good.

I watch as the puck is tossed around our end like fresh dough at a pizzeria. It sucks we couldn't control it but neither can they so I guess it's okay. In the end they just run out of time and the buzzer sounds.

We all flood the ice and embrace each other. We were all hurt and sore and tired but it didn't matter anymore. None of it mattered because for the third time in six seasons we were Stanley cup champions.

"We fucking did it" Jonny yells.

"I can't believe it" I scream. I mean I wasn't even supposed to play until the conference finals and now I get to raise the best trophy in sports above my head and am a big part of the reason we can. I was able to help the team from the start and earned getting my name engraved into the best trophy in history once again.

"We couldn't have don't it without you" he says. I smile up at him because as much as we tease each other and bicker, I can tell he meant that.

"Thanks man. How about you grab that trophy and make a lot of people happy" I reply.

Duncan Kieth is awarded the Conn Smyth because along with being the coolest fucking dude ever he had the most points on the team, as a defensemen, and played over thirty minutes every game. The guy is a machine.

After that Bettman comes out and is welcomed with a round of boos he announces us as the Stanley Cup Champions. He passed the trophy to Jonny and he gives it a little skate. Being the leader he is he doesn't over do it and instead looks for the person who has been waiting forever for this moment. He calls Kimmo over and I almost tear up. He was the guy I shook off in 2010 to win the cup, and here we are four years later and he is on the other side now.

Jon passes it off and kimmo lets out a battle roar. I can't even imagine how great that felt. Jon gets him to skate around with it and he soaks it all up, he was such a great teammate and has to retire for health reasons but I'm so happy I was a part of the team to get him the cup. He was one hell of a player and can retire on top.

The cup gets passed around and we all get a turn with it. The crowd was still packed, no one left yet or anything. Just goes to show what a great city Chicago is.

Eventually family comes down and are allowed on the ice. The first person to find me is my mom because duh.

"Getting kinda old isn't it" she asks.

"This will never get old" I smile. She pulls me into a hug and gives me a squeeze. I love her hugs.

"I'm proud of you" she says as we break apart.

"Thank mom" I smile.

"I'm running out of room to put all your accolades" my dad teases pulling me into a hug.

"I'm not done yet so make more room" I joke.

"That's my boy" he smiles patting my back.

I hug all of my sisters and listen to the usual "what do we get out of this" speech. That I do get tired of. Finally I find my wife in what she thinks is her lucky jersey. I'm not going to fight her on it, I just think it's cute she's so superstitious. But she wasn't here last year and we lost so maybe she was on to something.

"I promised you a cup" I tease.

"You did. And like many times before you didn't let me down" she smiles. I give her a kiss and it feels like time stops. It's giving me a chance to remember this moment and it was such a great one. I felt on top of the world, and I was. I know for a fact no one felt better after everything in this moment than I did. We break apart and just look at each other. She was smiling ear to ear and so was I. She breaks the moment by whipping her head around me before bouncing on the ice.

"Ohhh it's about to happen" Elizabeth cheers and I look at her weird.

"What's about to happen" I ask. She turns my head and I see Jonny on one knee with the cup beside him and a ring in his shaking hands. I hear Lindsey yell "yes" and he slips the ring on. I turn to see Elizabeth actually jumping up and down now.

"Oh I'm so happy for them. There's so much love going around" she squeals. I swear that is the most innocent woman in the world.

"You knew and didn't tell me" I accuse and now she was looking a bit guilty.

"I promised Jon I wouldn't tell anyone. He mentioned you by name specifically" she smirks.

"Of course he did" I laugh. I go over and congratulate him for finally getting the balls to purpose and Lindsey, Elizabeth, and my sisters all talk a mile a minute.

"We need to celebrate. And get drunk. And celebrate" Shaw claims.

"I know of a place..." Elizabeth trials off.

We all go to the bar that she used to work at and the drinks were on the house tonight. We put the cup on stage and take turns drinking from it.

"Okay okay okay. I have a special song that needs to be sang" Elizabeth says crawling up to the stage.

"Can I have all Hawks players here on stage with me" she asks. We all climb up there and I stand between her and Sharpy. The music starts and we all smile bright.

"We are the champions, my friends
And we'll keep on fighting 'til the end
We are the champions
We are the champions
No time for losers
'Cause we are the champions of the world."

I look around at friends and family and can't help but feel such a sense of bliss. Never have I felt so on top of the world, and never would have I thought I would found such a queen to rule besides me.