Have you ever watched an NHL game on TV? Considering how popular and widespread the sport of hockey is, it would be a difficult feat to have avoided seeing one. You’ll know, then, that televised NHL games are edited to be as entertaining and intense as possible. Multiple cameras capture all the action of the game, accompanied by energetic music and intelligent commentary. The teams battle under the watch of millions, doing everything they can to score and end the game as victors.
The action doesn’t last forever, though. Twice a game (sometimes three, for overtime), there is a seventeen-minute long intermission between periods. On television, this intermission time is filled with commercials, interviews, and professional analysis of the game so far. That way, the viewer is always entertained by something.
But what do the players do during the intermission time? They don’t just stay on the ice and skate around; they need a break from the harsh physical strain they’ve just endured. Here are eight of the most common things that NHL players do in between periods:
Rest
The main purpose of intermission for players is to give them a chance to rest. Playing in an NHL-level hockey game, even if only for a few minutes, is strenuous. Having a chance to sit down, catch your breath, and relax is vital to maintaining the energy needed to perform well for the periods to come.
Refuel
Along with resting comes refueling. Players use a lot of energy out on the ice that they need to somehow recover. Every player uses the intermission as an opportunity to rehydrate, either with water or a sports drink. That way, they’ll feel refreshed and reenergized for the rest of the game and can continue giving their all out on the ice.
Some players will also eat something during their break to help refuel. While it’s ill-advised to consume heavy food close to a workout, some players will have a light snack along with their drink. Foods like fruit, cereal bars, and sandwiches are most common.
Fix Their Equipment
Wearing a full set of hockey gear can be mighty uncomfortable, even for NHL players who have had years to get used to it. Moreover, it’s easy for individual pieces of equipment to slip into awkward positions out on this ice, where players don’t exactly have the time to fix it.
Most players will remove their jerseys and shoulder pads between periods to allow themselves to be more comfortable for a while. Some players even remove their skates as well. In addition, any other pieces of gear that are bothering a player have a chance to be repositioned for the next period, so they can play as comfortably as possible.
Re-tape Their Sticks
Just as the chalk on the end of a pool cue will wear out over time, so will the tape on the blade of a hockey stick. Hockey locker rooms are littered with hockey tape for the purpose of re-taping sticks during intermission. That way, players can keep the tape on their stick refreshed and won’t have to worry about the blade being damaged or the puck sliding off of it.
Talk Strategy
The break time between periods affords the coach a fantastic opportunity to talk to their entire team at once in a (relatively) quiet and closed environment. During the strategy talk, the coach will typically analyze the play from the most recent period and make any necessary changes to the team’s initial game plan. Of course, the players can also weigh in on the discussion and give their opinions, working with the coach to come up with the best plan for the rest of the game.
Use the Restroom
This is likely the most obvious item on the list of NHL intermission activities. Playing in an NHL game is extremely physically demanding, so hockey players are apt to sweat a lot. As a result, they intake a massive amount of fluids to stay hydrated throughout the game. The result of drinking a ton of water, I’m sure, can well be guessed.
Goof Around
Playing any sport at the highest possible level can be stressful and emotionally draining. One thing that players love to do during the breaks between periods is goof around. You know, banter, crack jokes, play little games with their teammates; all in the name of letting off some steam built up by the intensity of the sport.
This point can butt heads with the coach’s strategy talks in the form of constantly interrupting them. For that reason, the coach often despises the goofing around that the players do in the locker room. But, just like a class of fifth graders annoying their teacher, a bit of good fun will always be a part of every hockey team, no matter the age or skill level.
Other Specific Rituals
The intermissions between periods are seventeen minutes long. Even if a player were to partake in all seven other things on the list, they would still likely have some time left over before the needed to return to the ice. Most players fill said extra time just by resting more, to ensure they can perform at their best. Some players, though, have found more unique ways to pass the time.
Some players will take a shower during the intermission to feel revitalized for the upcoming period. Other players choose to meditate, closing their eyes, staying silent and visualizing their success for the remainder of the game. Some players have superstitions they adhere to like Ray Bourque, who would change the laces on his stakes every single intermission.
So, that’s what NHL players do in between periods, while fans too have their own habits during this time….but that’s another article for another day!
