”I had all my own teeth and I wanted to keep it that way.” - Tom Glavine, baseball pitcher, who opted to play professional baseball over hockey when drafted in 1984 to both the MLB (2nd round) and the NHL (4th round).
Hockey is no doubt a sport where an errant stick or shot can quickly become a girlfriend’s, wife’s, or mother’s worst nightmare for their significant other (or son). On more than one occasion I’ve been cut open for a few stitches, had a couple black eyes, & broken my nose 8 times (only 6 were on the ice – the other 2 being basketball & soccer). As a result, many hockey players own the scars of old stitched-up wounds, a crooked nose, and/or a few missing teeth. I’m not naming names but there are a few boys on the team, who if you ask politely (even though Halloween has passed), may pop out their false teeth. One of the greatest hockey players to have ever played this rough & tumble game was a man by the name of Gordie Howe. “Mr. Hockey” as he became known (every hockey player has to have a nickname!), was much recognized for his rare combination of significant skill & leathery toughness. I should also point out he was from Saskatchewan – a good province to learn both talents (no coincidence here that I am also from Saskatchewan).
Hockey great/Mr. Hockey Gordie Howe (notice the missing teeth):
One of the ugliest (but also one of the best) hockey players: Alex Ovechkin
It was on our latest test of games that I came into my latest black eye. One reason many players from North America venture over to Europe is because there are usually “lighter” schedules, this meaning players are subject to as many games over the course of the season. To extend on this point, the NHL regular season consists of 82 games. On top of this, each player usually will participate in 4 or 5 of the team’s 8 or so exhibition games. Moreover, if their team goes far into the Stanley Cup playoffs, add another possible 28 games to the list (16 if they sweep all 4 rounds). In total, a man who dodges injury could play up to 105 games in one season (about 38 weeks total). That’s 266 days total (give or take a few days), which intrinsically means playing a game every 2.5 days. Monday. Wednesday. Saturday. Repeat. To anyone else, this seems like a pretty easy job – only having to work 3 days a week. However, we have not accounted for daily practice, some sort of weekly regular off-ice workout regime, and the ever-grueling travel.
This last aspect can be the most taxing on a hockey player. Most hockey schedules are not always played out as mentioned above, but there are usually at least 3 games in a week. The most common North American schedule is playing on Friday, Saturday, and then finally Sunday. This is mostly due to a team trying to minimize its travel during the week. For example, situation #1: A team plays 3 games during the week with 1 being at home (City A) & 2 on the road (City B & C), in 5 different nights. Situation #2. A team plays 3 games in 3 nights: 1 being at home & 2 on the road in 3 nights. Situation #1 is more expensive for the team as renting a bus to City B, playing a game, returning to City A, playing a game 2 nights later at home in City A, then again 2 nights later renting another bus to City C, then returning to City A. Situation #2 would take a team from City A, to City B, to City C, and back to City A again usually, minimizing costs while maximizing games played. Our most recent schedule was modeled according to this “Efficient Schedule Hypothesis” (borrowing from Fama’s debatable Efficient Market Hypothesis for those of you familiar with economics). Said roadtrip took us from Dundee, Scotland to Belfast, Northern Ireland (game 1), to Dublin, Ireland (night 1), to Cardiff, Wales (game 2), to on the bus (night 2), back to Dundee, Scotland for game 3 (and night 3). Total distance travelled? Close to 1100 miles (or 1750 km) in about 70 hours, including over 5 hours of ferries. Needless to say, we did not perform as well as we would have liked to in the first 2 games (the second of which I received my black eye after a punch thrown while I was down on the ice – no more to be said on this matter). In the 3rd game in 3 nights, back in Dundee, our side played hard, but our tired legs could just not hold up and, battered and beleaguered, we lost 2-1.
3 games in 3 nights in 3 different countries. We traveled through 5 countries over the course of the trip (Scotland, Northern Ireland, Ireland, Wales, & England).
The ferry similar to the one we used to go to Belfast and the one from Dublin to Hollyhead.
Alas, the roadtrip was not over there! On Wednesday, we travelled to Nottingham (another 350 mile, 7-hour bus ride) to face a dangerous Panther squad. After 50 minutes, we were down only 2-0 despite playing with 5 defensemen and 8 forwards much of the game (injuries prevail after many games in not so many days) and after 60 minutes, final score: Nottingham 6, Dundee 0. Lastly, two nights later we found ourselves in another 300-mile, 6-hour trip to Sheffield. Still under-manned, our team played well but not a full 60-minute game and again we came out onh the losing end. 6 hours back to Dundee to face the Cardiff Devils the next night. On this Sunday, despite being quite worn down and still bogged down by some injuries, many of our guys played at much under 100% but we prevailed with a 3-2 shootout win.
Ironically, I potted the 2 regulation goals for us but my visiting family was no longer in town to see it! In fact, during this entire roadtrip, my parents and older sister (who flew over from Western Canada) followed the Dundee Stars like ducklings follow a mother goose. Impressively, my father, a former RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police or Mountie) and ruler of all things highway, kept the rental car & its occupants dent-free driving around all of the United Kingdom (literally). It was his first time on the left side of the road and it took him a few days to warm up to the roundabouts. Their tours started them Friday in and around Belfast, through Glasgow up to Dundee, all the way down to Nottingham, back to Dundee, around Edinburgh, Falkirk, Pitlochry, & Stirling, and finally back to Glasgow for their flight out 9 days later on Sunday morning. Over the last few years, I have become an excuse for my family to see many parts of, initially, North America, and now Europe, as they chase me around, hoping to catch a game while they still can. They used to be able to catch all my games up until the age of 16, driving my comrades & I to urban and rural rinks, tying many skates, and getting caught in a snowstorm or two. When I moved away from home to attend the storied Athol Murray College of Notre Dame in Wilcox, Saskatchewan (by then we had moved to Winnipeg), they would travel feverously to attend as many games near our hometown and the Saskatchewan-Manitoba border as they could. On their many trips to Sask, I bet that the former Mountie and wife (both now in sales), escaped at least 6 speeding tickets through wily yet friendly banter with the accusing officer. If they couldn’t attend a game in person, they’d usually call a relative near the town I was playing in, ask them to turn the radio to the AM station the game was being broadcast on, and put the phone next to the radio. Very dedicated parents to say the least, something I’m very appreciative of. I’m swaying though - these are stories usually meant for around an ice-cold beer or with a fishing line in the water.
The size of the town of my high school, Athol Murray College of Notre Dame in Wilcox, Saskatchewan. It's the alma mater of notable NHL alumni including Wendel Clark, Curtis Joseph, Rod Brind'Amour, Vincent Lecavlier, Brad Richards, Jordan Eberle, and over 100 other NHL players. The big building in the foreground is the Olympic Size rink. The town itself is about 250 people - with the school in session, the town grows to about 600 people.
Seeing the parents for the first time in months after a tough game in Belfast.
Some of the signs that my sister enjoyed over here. The first sign I didn't see and hit my head on a multi-century-old stone ceiling in Edinburgh Castle. It hurt.
The family trip was great, despite all the travel we were doing as a team, and that we were missing 2 more individuals from the family. While in Belfast, they went to Giants Causeway and Carrick-A-Reade, both pretty cool places according to their pictures and description of the place (of course, I was on a bus as told above). Finally back in Scotland, I showed them around some of the places I’ve already seen (i.e. St. Andrews & Carnoustie) and those I was hoping to see anyways (i.e. Edinburgh, Falkirk, & Stirling). We also treated ourselves to some unbelievable meals along the way. As it was my parents 31st Wedding Anniversary on Oct. 25th, we went to St. Andrews for a great lunch at the Jigger Inn & some great touring around the town. That evening, I invited a bunch of the boys to help us celebrate the milestone at Don Michele’s, a great restaurant run by a great guy (Patrick) who’s also a former Dundee ice hockey player from Italy. We also headed down to Edinburgh where we toured around Edinburgh Castle (amazing!), the Royal Mile, and enjoyed a pint & some Scottish whiskey in Edinburgh’s oldest pub – the White Hart Inn, established 1516. We had some great meals, most notably lunch at the Round House in Falkirk and Peppo’s (famous fish & chips) in Arbroath. I definitely recommend both places if you ever have the chance.
The parents on the day of their 31st wedding anniversary on the famous Swilcan Bridge in St. Andrews. (I missed their 25th & 30th wedding anniversary because I was at a college & playing pro far away so it was nice to celebrate with them again)
Sampling some Scotch whiskey at the White Hart Inn (established 1516 AD). Notice the black eye.
The amazing and incredible Edinburgh Castle. Definitely a must if you happen to visit the Scottish city.
I’d be remiss not to talk about any golf! Right before the family got into town, the usual golfing crew braved the cold, windy weather one day & headed over to Drumoig Golf Club. A great layout, the course proved extremely challenging on the front 9 with some very long par 5s, all into a strong wind that blew my hat off more than once (Picture me running after a rolling hat down the fairway, golf bag over my shoulder, clubs falling out, and my toque-wearing counterparts pointing and laughing). If you need an indication of how much the wind can play a factor here, I shot 54 on the front (the wind really had to be taken into account on 7 of the 9 holes) and 40 on the back 9 where wind was only a factor on 3 holes. Good fun nonetheless (if you’re not having fun, why even play?).
Teammate & Boston University product Dan McGoff on the 9th tee at Drumoig Golf Club. The 9th hole fairway was about 20 yards wide with water on both sides (you can only see the one side in the photo). Easily one of the more difficult holes I've ever played - especially with a 40 MPH wind playing perpendicular to your shot.
Sooooo, with that ridiculous roadtrip behind us, we’re hungry for some more wins, hungry for some more golf (might have to start wearing the toque tho), and thirsty for some Crown Royal & ginger. (Disclaimer: The only place we’ve found this Canadian whiskey treat is at the Jigger Inn in St. Andrews so the family brought some to Konkle & I. We are very grateful.) And also hungry for more chocolate walnut zucchini cake that my mom made us while she was here – it’s unbelievable. On that note, thanks Mom for making the cake and the “early” Christmas and birthday presents. Don’t worry though, the former are still in its Christmas wrapping paper.
Much more I could have put in this post but will save it for another one before it gets too long and your eyes become sleepy.
Happy Movember! (The picture above is from Naples, Florida when my parents trekked down there for a couple games and my last serious mustache attempt)
Brennan Turner
