Hailey's pov
The semifinal qualifier arrived like a thunderclap, the arena pulsing with raw energy that vibrated through the floors and into my bones. The crowd was a sea of team colors, banners waving, chants echoing off the rafters in waves that made the air feel alive.
Roy sat in the private box with Ryan, his arm finally free of the sling but his expression a mix of pride and frustration. He should have been down there on the ice, leading his team. Instead, Brighton wore the captain's C, strutting like he belonged.
The game started rough. Brighton fumbled passes, hesitated on shots, and barked orders that the team ignored. We fell behind early, the scoreboard a constant reminder of what we'd lost without Roy.
I stood front and center on the cheer mat, pom-poms gripped tight, forc
