After some self-evaluation, many people utilize the New Year to begin a 365-day journey of personal improvement.
Some aim to add good habits like reading daily while others look to rid themselves of bad habits like late night pizza binging. Now if we only applied this practice to the hockey side of our life…
As beer league hockey players we love to believe our games are responsible, calm, and complete — yes, we’re delusional when it comes to our skills and decision making.
Thankfully, our squad has taken the liberty to create a list of New Year’s resolutions for the adult hockey player looking to improve their game and be a better teammate:
Get Better
A beer league game or two a week isn’t enough to keep our stick and skating skills sharp. Hit up a stick time or adult hockey camp and work on your skills. You know the game is a lot more fun when you’re confident and not “thinking” out there.
Cool Your Jets
It’s midnight and there are no fans in the stands. Quit running around like you’re about to earn a tryout with a Southern Pro team. If someone clips you, get over it, you’re an adult. No one needs to show up to work tomorrow with a black eye or stitches.
Pay Your Dues
We’ve said it before, pay your share of the team registration fee ASAP. No one likes being the team banker let alone the collection agency. But also, team fee aside, fill the water bottles, bring pucks for warm up, and/or bring the post game beer. Be a proud contributing member of your team.
Treat Your Twig with Respect
You likely paid $100-$250 for your twig and you make an honest living. No sense in playing with an old sloppy tape job.
Catch Your Breath
Whether that means finally using your gym membership, cutting back on your smoking habit, or taking a shift or two off, get it together. Most of us are far from useful to begin with, let alone when it sounds like we need an oxygen mask.
Smell Better
Wash your jersey, socks, gitch, and anything else you can safely throw in your washer. Maybe throw use an equipment spray. Whatever just do something to reduce that hockey stench.
Be Reliable
If you say you’re playing tonight, show up! It’s really that simple. We can all use the exercise.
Prepare Your Bag
You know what gear and accessories you need to play tonight. Before heading to the rink, take a minute to make sure you have all your equipment, tape, and beer [if it’s your turn of course]. Teammates that forget their gear or double as tape mooches are never appreciated.
Play Smarter
Remember when your coach would rip you a new one when you’d waste a perfectly good odd man break by shooting high-and-wide? Or when you didn’t take the pass away on a 2-on-1? Or how about steering that rebound to the corner instead of the front of the net? Regardless, you’re a wily vet who’s been around the game long enough to play smart. Do it.
Relax and Enjoy the Locker Room
We understand it’s late but opportunities like this are few and far between anymore. Crack a cold one, reminisce and enjoy the room with your squad. Whether you’re telling old “war” stories or the team bachelor is filling everyone in on his sexcapades from the weekend before, you’re bound to have a few laughs.
Nothing better than some late night #beerleague hockey. #muckandgrind #stonehands #hereforthebeer A photo posted by Hockey Players Club (@hockeyplayersclub) on
Bonus: Ditch the Roller Bag
Carry your bag into the rink. It’ll help with those love handles you’re trying to shed!
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Are you a member of the awesome hockey tape subscription service, the Hockey Players Club? If not, save yourself time and money and join now!
