28 Games Later...

[der meister 3,257]

It's a little over a third of the way through the VHLM season and Ryuji Sakamoto is treating me to lunch on a rare non-game day. It's interesting to see the other side of the young Japanese defender. He's still very exercise-focused, repeatedly asking me to run with him this afternoon. I'm far from a physical specimen, unless you're looking for a specimen to include in a circus sideshow.

 

"C'mon, man!" Sakamoto presses. "It's good for you, and we can talk while we run!"

 

I can't imagine having enough energy or air to actually speak while running. "I don't want to hold you back from your training," I answer sheepishly, dipping my spoon into the remains of my ramen. Sakamoto is a big fan of adding ginger to his soup, grabbing a veritable handful from the self-service container. I'm not much of a fan of ginger, but take a few pieces to placate the rambunctious youth.

 

"It's a standing offer, man," Sakamoto says, picking at the dregs of his soup. "Any time you want to go for a run, I'll help you out."

 

Sakamoto has never been rude to me. Nor has he been demanding, irritable, or angry. Frankly, he quickly accepted my presence for this embedded assignment and adopted me as one-part friend, one-part physical fitness reclamation project. It's not something I want to do, but his sincerity in wishing the best for my health is touching, and undoubtedly influenced my opinion on the young man. For someone with such a bad reputation, he's been nothing but courteous during our time together.

 

Eager to steer the direction of the conversation away from my own lack of physical prowess, I pull out my notebook to reference some numbers. "You know, Ryuji," I begin as I flip through the pages, "you're well on your way to shattering the VHLM record for shot blocks."

 

It's as if a switch is flipped in the gangly youth. His expression darkens. "Still not good enough," he mutters, barely loud enough for me to hear him. I know he's thinking of his team, the Mexico City Kings, and their middle-of-the-pack performance so far this year.

 

"Hockey is a team sport," I say gently. "Running for your old track team was more about competing with yourself. Hockey is a game where everyone's effort, talent, and competitiveness – not to mention luck - lead to the end result."

 

"Still not good enough," he repeats.

 

I sigh and flip to the next page in my notebook. "Brandt Fuhr," I continue, referencing the Kings' starting netminder, "has a 0.905 save percentage. You have 123 shot blocks. By my math, that means you have prevented 12 goals against this season." Sakamoto's lips turn down, but I press on. "If Freddy Freeze is in net, with his 0.884 percentage, you've stopped nearly 15 goals. Not only that, but you're one of the top scoring defensemen in the league, AND the league's leading hitter."

 

I let the numbers wash over him and settle as he stares at a thin slice of green onion that has stuck to the side of his empty ramen bowl. "You can't put the world on your shoulders," I add quietly. "I've been around hockey for a very long time, and what you're doing right now is incredible. Just keep doing that and the rest of the pieces will fall into place."

 

Sakamoto is on pace for 316 blocks on the season. The current VHLM record is held by Las Vegas Aces alum Mr. Shakedown, who registered 263 blocks 25 seasons ago.

 

One of many for Sakamoto