Hockey is a very fast game, but do you know what goes on in the locker room, during
warm ups, or on the bench? I’m going to go beyond just the game of hockey. Relationships
and communication are very important, probably the most important factor in being a
successful team and having a season that you don’t want to end. The only way to extend your
season is by winning, but in order to win you must work hard. 
The ride to the rink is probably the best time to get pumped up for the game, but when
you show up to the rink it’s all game face. In the locker room my team had assigned seats,
whoever you sat by the first day was who you sit by for the whole year. The coaches usually
give us 45 minutes to ourselves to get mentally prepared for the game but, the 15 minutes
before we get on the ice is theirs. During the 45 minutes we have to get mentally prepared the
team takes a high speed jog after the jog we go to a corner in the rink and play tips before we
stretch led by the captains. Typically one captain and two assistant captains Tips is a game
played with a soccer ball with a group of people in a circle, you need to be in the air to move
the ball within one second that you get it, if you fail to do so you are eliminated until the game
is over. After tips we stretch for about 15 minutes on our own. That leaves us 15 minutes to
listen to music and get dressed before the coaches come in.
When the coaches come in its all business. All of us players bags must be tucked
underneath the bench so the coach can pace around and give us a speech about what we
need to do during our game. The players must have every piece of equipment on except for
helmets and gloves. We usually have a ten minute chalk talk, and the coaches have 5
minutes for a pregame speech. After the zamboni gets off the ice, it is game time. All buckets
and gloves on and we grab our sticks as we go to get on to the ice.
Warm ups on the ice include skating passing and shooting for 5 quick minutes before
the game starts. But as soon as the buzzer sounds ending warm ups on ice its game time.
The puck drops and the rivalry begins. After the first period ends we get a one minute
“meeting” as you could call it to make some team adjustments such as our forecheck,
backcheck, puck movement or just in general our work ethic. But after the second period we
go to the locker room for approximately 15 minutes for the zamboni to resurface the ice. We
usually refill water bottles and talk about what we need to improve on. After the game we
shake hands and say good game to the other team and the rivalry is over until next time we
meet on the ice again. When we get in the locker room after the game the coach says either
“Good game, see you guys tomorrow.” if we win, but if we lose we talk about the game.
Afterwards, the game is done an d we head home but, no matter the outcome we work harder
and harder each day at the rink.
here is a lot more to the fast game of hockey.Whether its from being in the locker room
with the boys to warm up to on the rink its important to have a strong close relationship as a
team. Getting to know the game better and knowing what is behind just the game is going to
get people a lot more respect for this game. With hockey being such a physical and fast sport
keep your head up and move the puck, not only will you be successful but you will be noticed
in the game.