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***Anthique*** · 08-07-2022, 03:50 PM

After his last game played in St Louis against the Vancouver Whalers who managed to beat him in shootout, Anthony Dionne had a call when he was at home by the Texas GM. He said « Hey, we have a two game trip that are back to back who’s coming and we would like to call you up to play in one of those games. Do you think you’re up to the challenge to play for the Texas Renegades? » He was not ready to get that call so early in his career that he respond by the first thing that come to his mind at this moment so he said « against who?». So the first game of his career will be against the New England Wolfpack.

When he ends the call with his SHL GM and thanking him for the opportunity, he calls his parents. He tells them that THE day have finally come and he will be the starter for a SHL game. His game against the Whalers was in St Louis so not too far from Texas, in next destination before going on the away trip. The game was on the 9th, but the game against the Wolfpack is only on the 15th. Between that, the Renegades had a game at Toronto on the 11th to face the North Stars. It didn’t go well in that game because we lose 7-3. With a 5h30 plane trip from Toronto to Texas, the team was back only the next day. The Scarecrows had also a game on the 11th against Great Falls at home and they win by a good margin 10-2 so even if I was not able to participate in the game, I was there with the staff watch my teammates win.

The next day, he took the plane to get to the practice facility in Dallas for the team meeting and for the practice after that. First thing, meeting with the teammates and the equipment staff in the locker room. Being only in his second year in the SMJHL, he didn’t know anyone in this locker room, but played a couple of time versus Chris McZehrl Jr. when St Louis faced Kelowna last year. The next group was the medical staff to examine him to be sure there is nothing wrong and if he will be able to play in a couple of days.

When you lose 7-3, you know the next practice will be hard. He never expected to be that hard (that’s what she said). He considered him lucky to be a goalie and not a player. He sees that the difference of caliber between the two leagues and that scared him a little knowing that three days later, he will face real shots in a real game. Skating without the puck and the positioning in the defensive zone was a big part of the practice because that was a part of the last game who was deficient and to help the rookie goalie to win his first game.
The practice done, a short meeting with the coach and the general manager was on schedule. As a goalie, I don’t need a lot of explanation of the system and what I’m supposed to do in certain situations. So it was mainly the basics with the coach, and some information about why I’m here and what they expect of me. We had a little conversation after the draft, but it was nice that the team did a follow up at almost the mid-season with him to give him more details about his progression.

They did two days of practice before flying to Boston for their back to back games. Winnipeg is the next destination.

The day of the game, Dionne was in his hotel room getting ready for the morning skate, looking in the mirror, saying in his head « I made it! ». Joining his teammates in the lobby, everyone was ecstatic for him and you can feel the energy in the air. After having two hard practices in Texas, the morning skate was easy and that’s normal because you don’t want to exhaust yourself and have enough energy for the big game. Dionne tried to stay focused and he had a private session with the goalie coach to remind him of what he needs to do to have success and the little detail he had to keep in mind. The only other player from Quebec, Tommy Tightpants bring him in the city to eat and to buy a new suit for tonight game. You are in the men’s league so you have to dress like it. You don’t earn a lot of money when you are a rookie, but when you are a professional, you need to act like it and you represent the league, your team and yourself so let’s go baby! A little nap in the afternoon to get an energy boost, but he was waked up when someone knocks at the door. It was the captain of the club, Andreas Kvalheim, who wanted to tell him that the team rent a limousine for his first game. So when he’s ready, he just has to go to the lobby and a chauffeur will be there to bring him to the rink. At the beginning he thought that this was a joke, but anyway he didn’t have to choice to suit up! The ride in the limousine was smooth, the city of Boston is beautiful and at the time the players arrived at the rink, there was not so much traffic.

When he arrived at the Boston TD Garden, there were some fans who were there to welcome him and to have his autograph. He didn’t have the choice to please his fans who took the time to meet him. He felt like a real rockstar, but he knew he had to deliver a good performance tonight if he wants the fans to come back. There was too many of them so he tells them to come back after the game. Coming from the west coast, there was no problem for him to stay up late because of the time zone you go to bed later and after a hockey game (especially your first), there is enough adrenaline in your blood to keep you up for a couple of hours.

Inside the arena, his parents were there to wish him good luck and to remind him to stay humble and down to earth because it is a privilege to play in the SHL. All this, but the more important: enjoy the moment. There is only one time that you have the chance to play your first game and you will remember it for the rest of your life. In the locker room, everybody was doing his routine, but when he enters the room, Dionne was acclaim and wished good luck. At this moment, he begins to feel the stress so he had to calm himself and remember what his parents told him.
Five minutes before the beginning of the warm up, everybody was outside the locker room giving him a little bump on the pads or on the shoulder to boost his confidence and to know that they will have his back. Like every rookie, he will have a tour of honor alone on the ice, so he did it with a big smile on his face looking everywhere to save it in his memory forever. When the national anthem was playing, you could see that he has got in his focus mode and he’s now ready to face his destiny.

First period. There was some action at both ends of the ice, but nothing of interest until a penalty to New England. The powerplay only lasts 5 seconds before the Renegades also took one. That didn’t stop the captain Andreas Kvalheim to open the score a minute and a half after the first one. Another penalty for Texas late in the period, but no damage done. It was the only goal of the period and Dionne stop the 9 shots he faced.

Second period. In the first half, only two penalties (one from each side) worth mentioning. Not two minutes after that, New England with a goal of Alexander Wachter managed to beat Dionne and tied the game. Texas got another late penalty in the period, but again Dionne and the defensive squad were there to prevent a goal. Texas leads the shots on goal 15-12 and after two periods its 22-21 for the Renegades and a score tied 1-1.

Third period. Both teams continue to push and try to take the lead, but the captain of Texas Andreas Kvalheim had a very good lunch, and score his second goal of the game at 7:45. The celebration weas short because Jayson Aittokallio put the puck behind Dionne two minutes later and the game is tied again! The Renegades had a powerplay after that, but Evert Jansson also had a great performance in net so the game will continue into overtime!

Overtime. In his first game in the SHL, Dionne gets the chance to win in overtime, where legends are created and where the players elevated their game and have the etiquette of «clutch» add to their name. So the period begins and New England pressed hard with five shots on goal after only two minutes and even 3VS3, Dionne continues to make the save. After his fifth one, Tommy Tightpants took the puck and passed directly to Dane von Gucci who enter the offensive zone and makes a great pass to Frederico Von Schnicktenburg in the slot, who shot, and scored! The game is finally over and the Renegades win the game! Everybody on the bench just jumped on the ice to congratulate their young goalie for his great performance. When they announced the name of Anthony Dionne for the third star of the game, even the crowd was happy for him and you could have eared people from St Louis and his family encouraged him. A legend was born. He finished the game with 40 saves on 42 shots, a 0.950 save percentage and a game rating of 100. The second star was Ambacas Cuddles with two assists and the first star, Andreas Kvalheim with two goals.

In the locker room, even with a game in less than 24 hours, the boys were crazy and poured some beer on him, giving him some slap on his pads and chanting his name. Bob Duncan, who earned the player of the game in the last game against Toronto, gives the cowboy hat to Dionne, even if it was Kvalheim the first star of the game. He said: «With a great effort for his first SHL game, gives his 100%, played like a monster on the four PK we give, he gives us the chance to win and for his big smile, so I give the hat to our new Renegades, Tony Dionne!» After accepting the hat, he had some words for his teammates: «Thanks for this guys! Everyone deserves this one tonight so I’m honored to get it. Thanks again for giving an extra effort on each one of your shift to help me make the save so I will remember that when I will come back. Cheers!» So at that moment the music started and the players remove their equipment before the media can enter the locker room. There was some reporters assigned to the team, one from the league (SHL) and some from his hometown in Quebec. They were all kind and proud of him and just wish him the best going forward. Dionne has never seen that much journalist in a locker room, especially for him, but he kinda liked it. After speaking with them for like an eternity, he meets with his family to speak about the game, his feeling and give them the puck of the game. Sometime later, he said to them to meet him at the hotel tomorrow morning so they can talk more because he had to sign others autographs. He knew he wouldn’t play the next day so he took his time to meet with everyone and pleased his fan base.

None of his teammates were down to go to a bar because they have to play the next day so they told him that when they get back to Texas, they will go to a bar and celebrate. When he went to bed that night, Anthony Dionne couldn’t believe the amazing day that just went by. Yes, there was a lot of stress, but he would take a day like this one 100% of the time. He sleeps well that night, dreaming about his next objective, since his last one just happen a few hours ago.