ITS GAME WEEK!!!!!!

We have our first game of the season this weekend in Vermont! There is a lot of things that go on behind the scenes to get our team ready for games.

First our equipment manager has to make sure everyones gear is in good condition and does its job. Its also our jobs to tell him if something is wrong, and to give him enough time to fix it before game time. He has to make sure that all the extra stuff like tape, skate sharpeners, extra gear, and anything else we might need in an emergency is packed up and ready to go. He is one of the main reasons all of us make it onto the ice full padded and ready to play. Our equipment manager is so important that he travels with us to away games!

Another person who is extremely important, but isn’t traveling with us this weekend is our weight lifting trainer. Because he is unable to travel with us for this game series he has to print off pre-game warm ups and stretches and post-game cool downs and stretches. He is also in charge of packing up any equipment we might need in our exercises. For example, our rollers (to break down the lactic acid that builds up in our muscles), bands (to help us stretch out), lacrosse balls (to role knots out), and a footwork ladder (to work on our agility). His preparations are key in making sure everyone on the team is physically ready for the game.

Third, we have our trainers, who keep us healthy and help us recover from injuries. They also have to pack up their supplies, like tape, first aid kits, food, water, and an specific thing that a player may need. They are key in keeping our bodies fueled and preventing injuries. Our trainers also travel with us.

Next comes our coaches. They work endlessly picking out lines and plays. They have the teams best interest when they think of how to beat the team we are going to play. Our coaches make sure that there is good chemistry with each line and that they will stack up well against our opponent. Our practices have mainly been focusing on setup in each zone and playing positions. I think this is our best bet when we have such little time to prepare for our first game.

Lastly, are the players themselves. Even a week ahead we are watching what we eat and how late we stay up. We try to stay ahead of our school work, which includes talking to our professors and letting them know when we will be absent. We are also encouraged to turn in work before we leave if it is due while we are gone instead of after. Besides school work we really focus on getting the right amount of nutrients and rest in order to play at our best at the end of the weeks.

Also game weeks aren’t any easier than a regular week of practice, we still condition and do the same tiring drills we would do any other week. Game week is not a week we get to take off.