Ready or Not Here We Go

Women's Home Opener 4-0 Win!

     There are a few things in life that are certain, death, taxes and another season of college hockey. It doesn't matter if the players, coaches, staff, fans, or arenas are ready the season will come. Summer always seems too short this time of year and many are left to think about how we could have prepared better for puck drop, I'm no different. This past summer I was on the phones and emails just about every day getting things set for the athletes return in September. No matter how set you think you will be though and no matter how many deadlines for orders you were early on things will always become a cluster fuck in the end, this year has been no different. But hey at least my new order of gloves did arrive, less than 24 hours before game time. Plenty of time to have them broken in and comfortable for the players...NOT! Oh well, I don't wear them, that would be way too annoying trying to sharpen skates without the use of my thumbs.
     The men opened the 2012-2013 campaign this past Saturday (girls started last weekend but only an exhibition.) The men played ECAC foe Quinnipiac University. Lucky for me the team arrived in town Friday around 8pm unlike our normal 11-12pm arrival times during league play. That set me up for a great Saturday morning where I was able to come to work after getting a full nights sleep. Game day prep is what I consider ordered chaos. There is always something going on during the day running up to puck drop. Usually for home games I start things off with a stop at Tim Hortons for coffee and donuts and then a round of skate sharpening. I can tell you all find this very interesting. The teams will both have an hour of ice to loosen up the legs and get the heart pumping, sometimes I think it's more just to get the guys out of bed and off the couch which is not a bad thing. Once our guys take off from whatever meetings and meals they have and the locker room is empty it's really my time to get moving. My staff (all student workers and volunteers) and myself will work to clean and organize the locker room, set up whatever items are needed on the benches and pretty much get everything ready for the players so all they have to do is show up and play the game.
     It might sound strange but during the game I usually sit back and catch my breath. There is little that I can or need to do as long as I am fully prepared before the game starts. On the bench I will hunker down in the corner next to my array of players back up sticks and try my best to actually watch the game. It's not easy to see around a backup goalie in full pads so most of my game viewing is on the jumbo-tron. If something does break I'm still limited in what I can actually do without getting off the ice. Time is essential for the players as they don't want to and often can't afford to miss shifts so I do tend to stay on my toes to hand out sticks when needed and to fix the lost skate edge or helmet screw.

First Career Goal Celebration

    Anyway, now that you are all bored here is what happened in the games. Saturday we ended up losing to Q'pac 2-1. The boys played well, we were really flying out there on the ice, just couldn't put the puck in the net. The one highlight did come early though as one of our freshman scored his first career goal, off an assist from his older brother.
     Sunday was much the same for me, we played the University of New Brunswick and ended up tying 2-2. I gave my student assistant a shot at taking the game and I watched from just off the ice in case I was needed. I think it was a good experience for him and something he will get to do many more times this year. It was fun for me too, I got to take a breather for a few hours which does not happen often in the season.

Behind the Visitor's Net

  Now it's on to the next set of games, and our first roadie. Thursday at 4am we fly out to Kansas City MO for a two game weekend. First off we play Notre Dame who next year joins our conference and Saturday we play either the University of Nebraska Omaha or the US Military Academy. I'm thinking all the time on planes this week will warrant a second post so stay tuned for more fun and exciting times from ITER.

Setup of Men's Locker Room