It’s tougher to lose on the road

Happy Halloween to all, it was again that time of year.

I have to say, our last games have at times looked like some local beer league team had dressed up in Ducks’ equipment for Halloween and went to play NHL hockey. This is at times very difficult, though it doesn’t always have to be easy. But we will rise again; this team has had the habit of doing things the hard way.

But it is hard. It’s even harder when you lose on road. Then you have way too much time to think negative things. At home you at least can get your mind off hockey the moment you open your front door. Fortunately we have a good group, and together we try to make the travelling as nice as possible.

The thing I’m probably going to miss the most after retirement is the life in locker room. Joking with the guys, wins, losses, tears, laughter… Those are all part of this life. It’s hard to find the same camaraderie anywhere else, we experience so much together. The team becomes very close, like a family. The coaches are strict dads, who set tight limits and who you at times hate and at other times admire. The physiotherapists and staff are like moms, who do the laundry, take care of the stuff and keep us in good condition, also mentally! Everything is done to create a winning, successful team. It’s not easy to build a team, with the right chemistry and team spirit from 25 different personalities.

The coach has the toughest job. It’s almost mission impossible to try to keep 25 different players happy. Every player has their own personality; you have to respect them the way they are. To get the most out of the players on ice takes enormous people skills from the coaches and the players. You can’t handle everyone the same way. Some players need screaming and shouting. With others you need to stroke and be more sensitive. It’s the only way to get the most from the team.

The same method likely works in families as well as in the business world. And in many other situations that require group performance. So there are plenty of challenges. In my mind our coach Carlyle has improved in this, how to handle people as individuals. He has done a good job at that, even though he is an "old school" coach.

It reminds me of a funny story about my former teammate Dustin Penner, a little lazy guy who needed a bit rougher handling. Carlyle gave him hell in such a manner; I was wondering how Dustin would handle it. Carlyle often repeated the phrase "fuck’n Penner, fuck’n Penner". After the season Dusting laughed as he told us that he actually started to think that his name actually was "fuck’n". Well, it probably helped that we won the Stanley Cup that year.

Of the 14 days and 7 games trip there are still 2 left, so it’s time to rise again. In my next post I could answer your questions, if there are any. Until that, have a nice autumn all!

*actually proofread this time