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Beckett Croft angled to stop just inches frouy had been favoring the Anaheim Ducks since the first puck drop

Leaning in, Beckett pinned the ref with all the frustration that had built up over the first two periods of the game

“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me” Beckett kept his voice down, but it took uy had been favoring the Anaheiame “Donovan wasn’t even close Decker faked that trip You ought to at least call him on embellishment”

As the Washington Rough Riders’ captain, Beckett was the only player who could talk to—or in this case, challenge—the ref’s calls Nor an example for his teammates was an important part of the position, one he took seriously But so was calling bullshit

“Don’t tell rabbed the puck from another member of his four-man team Before he skated away, he warned, “If you want to stay on the ice, Croft, lose the attitude”

“Fucking A” He blinked sweat from his eyes as he skated into the face-off formation “This is bullshit”

Tate Donovan, one of their highest scorers, glided past on his way toward the penalty box with “Even it up, Beck”

“You know it”

Beckett had two major jobs on the ice—protection and punishnated enforcers And Donovan was right, this was a good time to even up the score—if not on the board, where they were already tied with the Ducks to—certainly on the ice, where the ref had fallen short

There was more than one way to seek justice

With twelve minutes left of the second period, Fall Out Boy blasted over the arena’s speakers, background to the announcer’s voice hyping the Rough Riders’ lineup And while the fifteen thousand fans filling their hoton, DC cheered with steadfast belief in their teahtened with each second that ticked past

His tea the middle of their season and the acclaimed Winter Classic They needed this win to advance into the finals Beckett hi the end of his contract with his team, and he needed this win just as badly to secure his personal and professional goals