i was thinking here and i came to the conclusion that while mack obviously has adored will ever since they became friends, it was in that faithful december 13th game against the pittsburgh penguins that he realized just how important will smith hockey actually is to him.
when he sat on the penalty box and looked completely distant, as if he was trying to process everything that had happened and the decision he made by impulse the second he saw will being checked and falling awkwardly on the ice, he was probably coming to the realization that will wasn't like the other friends he had before. he was realizing that will meant so, so much more to him, and that he was willing to go to extreme lengths to protect will and have his back.
i think mack noticed just how intense his attachment to will is, and how much will smith hockey runs through his veins and makes him feel and feel and feel and how important it is for mack to have will by his side. i don't think mack downplayed the role will plays in his life before will was injured, not at all. i just think that he realized that their bond is greater and stronger and truly different from anything else he's had before.
this is where everything changed and where their friendship evolved, where will felt safer to show mack how much he appreciates him in ways he hadn't done before and where mack decided that no one matters as much to him as will does. this is the point where they decided to enter each other's world in ways they hadn't before; this is where mack decided he would go to boston and will decided he'd go to vancouver, where will decided he would introduce mack to his inner circle and his family, and where mack decided that it was time for will to see the rink he'd make his mom drive him to at 4am, where he would skate and shoot the puck until exhaustion took over him.
that faithful december 13th game, no matter how much of a bitter memory it can be for mack and will, is also where a different side of their bond began to blossom, and they have allowed it to blossom beautifully.
