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University of Massachusets Athletics
Inside The Glass With Troy Power
October 07, 2014 | Hockey
This past week was a very exciting time for our team. For some it was the first chance to put on that Maroon and White jersey that we all cherish, for others it was a reminder of how lucky we are to represent our school under the bright lights of the Mullins Center.
I would be lying if I said there wasn't excitement around the locker room from the moment we all arrived for pregame skate around 10 a.m. on Saturday. Whether you're a freshman or senior, the first game is always one that everyone is eager and ready to get going. It's a time to show a culmination of the off-season's hard work, a time for first impressions and a chance to get out to a good start for the year.
Fortunately for us, we were able to have an exhibition game against Dalhousie, which for those who don't know is a Canadian College. Many NCAA teams elect to do the same against various Canadian colleges and will play host to them in their respected arenas. In my opinion, it is a great advantage to have this type of exhibition game, especially in the manor we did it in. By that I mean we were able to have a one-game weekend, at home, with a 7:05 p.m. start time. This is so valuable in my eyes because this week we will have a very similar schedule in hosting Boston University for our home opener at 7:05 p.m. on Friday.
The average fan might show up just in time for warm-ups or perhaps right before the game starts. What people do not always know is how much of a routine game days consist of for players. It is a full day that starts with a pre-game stretch around 10:30 a.m. followed by a short 20 to 30-minute skate to get everyone's legs loose for the night. After skate players either relax or head to class before again meeting up at 2:00 p.m. for team lunch in a private room at the Hampshire Dining Commons on campus. Our meal usually consists of grilled chicken, rice, pasta and vegetables, as well as soup and salad. From there, players can relax or take pregame naps to pass the time at their residence until they arrive at the rink around 5:00 p.m. After our 5:30 meeting with the coaching staff to go over key points for the game, we head to a team stretch with Coach Feek, our strength and conditioning coach. That leaves about 30 minutes to focus and get dressed for warm-ups, which start at 6:28 p.m., sharp. Once warm-ups end, it is a quick ice-cut and it's go time.
All the specific numbers and times above describe our "team" routine for game day. Between each of those numbers lies a personal checklist that many individuals have to ensure that they are prepared the best they can be for success. It may seem crazy to some people, but these routines often times start days in advance depending on who you ask. My personal routine starts the night before the game when my roommate Zack LaRue and I cook chicken, steak tips, veggies and rice as our pregame meal. Many guys also choose to go out to eat at their favorite pasta restaurants around Amherst. Game day superstitions include big naps, playing soccer in the hallways before stretch, stick handling with a ball, eating a certain snack at an exact time, having a cup of coffee at the rink before warm-ups, or taping your stick in the stands.
Whatever the case, everyone has their own superstitions and routines for every game. When you haven't played a real, full-go competitive game in months it is tough to make sure your routine is perfect. That is one reason why I think the exhibition game is so valuable, especially with the 7:05 start time to get back into the swing of things.
Now that our first game is in the books, I can officially say it's hockey season! It was great to get our first win as a team and take our first step forward together as a group. It is always special to see guys' faces the first time they get to play inside the Mullins Center. I remember it like it was yesterday being that wide-eyed freshman stepping out on the ice for warm-ups. Hopefully everyone was able to get out the beginning of the year jitters so come Friday we are ready for Boston University. Looking forward to seeing you all there at Mullins! Go UMass!
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