The final buzzer sounds. After an incredible victory where you personally dominated the ice, you feel like a king on top of the world. You were an offensive machine. You scored 4 goals out there tonight and at the end of the game, the scoreboard shows a super 4-2. You made a few defensive plays and stuck to your skills and strengths, but at the same time, you overreached in a few places. Maybe you played more conservatively than you thought? Twice tonight, you made a bad call and in those moments of weakness, you allowed the opponents to score on you. Why did you make those decisions? Did you forget about your player strengths in the heat of the moment?
Now exhausted, you take a moment to reflect about the game before the cheering gets so loud that you have no room in your thoughts for anything besides celebrations. As you replay your actions from the night you can't help but linger over those moments where you could have played ever slightly more perfectly. I mean, you scored 4 goals and that's damn sight better than most rookies at their first game 7 cup appearance. Yet, the opponents scored two goals and you failed to capitalize at an opportune moment. Maybe if you had just made a different play you could have dominated this game and gone on to showcase a talent that would be talked about for years to come.
Now the game is over. The challenge cup is right before you as the SHL Commissioner brings it out. The ice is being showered with hats and confetti and calls for another cup. The fans are ever thirsty.
As the cup is wheeled out you know that you won't be the first in line to hoist the beauty. That would go to your captain and your goalie who should tremendous effort out on the ice. Feel proud of knowing that you carried the cup to your team, and you put down all your cards when they needed you.
Congratulations. You won the game!
But maybe if you had just taken the initiative and trusted yourself more, or maybe a bit less. Or maybe if you tried another move. You can do better right? There are other ways this could have ended, are you brave enough to try it again?