If I never hear the word hockey again, it will be too soon.
That's why you won't find a single item in my sporting goods store; no blades, pucks, or sticks.
It never existed for all I cared. But I cared. More than I wanted to.
It still hurt. Not my arm. The pain doesn't bother me anymore. It was the rage, hostility, humiliation and of course - the gut-ripping realization of knowing my career with the NHL was over. Only two years after it started.
Until Rayne-and Jax, her seven-year-old son walked into my store, looking for hockey gear-and lessons. They couldn't possibly had come to a worse place for that.
But try saying no to a gorgeous blue-eyed blond...oh and his hot mom too... when in a matter of minutes, the two managed to put more smiles on your face than you thought possible.
It's just my damned luck though - that this woman has more of a connection to a world I try everyday to forget.