Ryan Morton Research Paper

In the fall of 2010 Ryan Morton was preparing for the most important game of his young hockey career. He will make his first start for the Stl Blues. He has be practicing tirelessly for the last 10 year of his life for this game. He was the star of his high school hockey team in Canada. He has not always been this good though. In youth hockey he was told he was to small and would never be a great player. So he worked on his game day and night to improve. He went to college and played hockey. He was taken with the 3rd pick in the 2009 draft. He will make his first game today.

On his way to the game he stopped to call his high school coach. Hi coach told him he was the most astonishingly gifted player he had ever seen. When he arrived at the

stadium he was amazed to see cameras as far as the eye could see. With reporters from wall to wall. One asked the question “ How do you feel before the first game of your career” Ryan says “ To be honest I am as nervous as a cat in water”. He walks to the locker room through the long narrow hallway. Where he find his teammates preparing for the game. Some are praying others are watching video of their last performance. There his coach asks “ Are you ready for today” He replies “ i hope so”. He slowly approaches his locker and starts to get ready. When he finishes putting his gear on it is time for the pregame skate. After that he has a laser like focus on the game.

When he first walks on the ice he is in mesmerized by everything.

The coach gives an inspiring pregame speech and tells them if they work hard no one will beat them. Then public address announcer comes on and say they are about to play the national anthem. Already amazed by the whole moment. After that he begins to take the ice but before that his teammate says good look. He is waiting for the puck drop to him it feels like an eternity but it actually is a matter of seconds. Next thing he knows he is skating down the ice and shoots the puck and hits the post. The crowd all screams in astonishment. He comes off the ice and his team says nice try.The game was still tied at the end of the first period. When he went back into the game he knew the play. He got the puck and moved up ice and passed it in front of the goalkeeper and the center scored. Ryan was rushed with emotions he joined his teammate to celebrate. He got his first assist in the NHL. The buzzer sounded it was the end of the

period.

The third period starts the most important period in hockey.

Ryan had worked his whole life to be in the moment and he was ready to score a goal. He was on the bench when he the crowd go silent he realized that the score was 1 to1. The coach yelled we still have time. After that the team is as quiet as a mouse they all know what they have to do. With a 3 minutes left to play he is put into the game. The next 3 min were a blur. The next thing he remembers is the red goal light going off and horn sounding and the crowd screaming as loud as they can. Is team joins him to congratulate him his first goal. With 35 sec left they were on top 2 to 1. Then the game was over he had just scored the winning goal he had worked all his whole life for this moment. His team cheering his name they made their way to the locker

room.

The game had ended the had won. His coach gave the team speech he said “That was a performance for the ages”. His team called him a hero. All he could think about has the people who said he couldn't. He want to talk to the media on his way he saw Blues legend Brett Hull he told him”Kid you have a very bright future. Ryan replied “Thanks”. At the press conference he was asked” how do you feel about how far you will go in your career” he replied “ if i work hard there is nothing i can't do”. With that he left the stadium and headed home knowing he had succeeded.