This article is dedicated to the Prairie Boys, City Slickers, and all those in between who will embark on winning a spot in the coming weeks of pre-season in the NHL

Hockey pundits always say that you can’t win it that first month of the season, but you sure can eliminate yourself, so Coaches and General Managers are on an almost Hell Week type of journey as the pre-season begins. Decisions, Decisions, Decisions.

Is the Rookie ready to stay up?

Does the Veteran have one last hurrah in his legs?

Is our Goaltending tandem a solid one?

Should we have signed another Free Agent or re-signed the one we just let go?

These are just a few of the things that go into the management side of things as 75 odd players show up for training camp. Th NHL season is a long grind, and culminates with a Playoff that takes guts to perform in, almost always playing on a system of every other night, and without a doubt injured in one way or another.

Because of that long arduous process, it is imperative that the coaching staff, thoroughly evaluate their players both on the main squad and in the minor league system, to know without a shadow of a doubt, who can handle a battle like that. I would be remiss in not mentioning some of the unheralded heroes known as the back room staff of Athletic and Equipment Trainers, Nutritionists, Therapists, and Doctors etc…

Most of these wonderful people listed, go without fanfare, and dedicate hours, and sleepless nights in locker rooms to have their teams ready for action. I was one of those guys, working in the visiting locker room, and witnessing what these players go through on a daily basis come Hockey Playoff time.

Simply said it’s about Stitches, Sprains, Breaks, and most often, the odd guy losing some teeth, and playing through it. The best part is the answer you’ll hear from a Hockey player in an interview, in that all these things are a long way from the heart.

Hockey is team first, and no player epitomizes that more than the so-called “Tough Guys” Those that know me closely are well aware of my friendships with many of these role players, because I have had the luxury of being “In The Room” as they say. I know what these players mean to their teams, and quite often when Hockey Playoffs start, their roles are diminished, but sometimes that is not always the case. They often are the keys elements as well in shutting down the opposition’s top lines in a checking role.

Over the years the name of “Goon” has pretty much diminished, and players just don’t last on teams if they can’t play a regular shift, and contribute in other ways. I think back very fondly to when Detroit Red Wing resident pugilist Darren McCarty scored a magical goal in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Finals.

In the Eighties, Edmonton doesn’t win all of their Cups, with their talented team if not for the likes of honored teammates like Marty McSorley, and Kevin McClelland. Even in the miraculous run made by the New York Islanders of four consecutive Cups, they had players with character, guys like Bob Nystrom, Clark Gillies, and Duane Sutter and a host of others that wouldn’t think twice in dropping the gloves to defend a teammate

The dedication of these individuals night in and night out, often times goes un-noticed by the general public, but there isn’t a superstar alive who played professional hockey that won’t tell you how important these players were to their career, policing the ice, and clearing a path for their success.

So here’s a big shout out to all those rookies, tough, skilled, or both, in your pursuit to make the cut, and embark on the journey that culminates with raising Lord Stanley’s Cup.

Photo credit: Christian Petersen