Rituals

[youloser1337 1,122]

So far I've had a few pre game rituals that I must do the day before or even on gameday. They help me be in the right mindset for game time. My teammates give me space whenever I'm doing my ritual. They know not to mess with me. When I'm in game time mode, I don't want to be messed with. I've actually had a few different rituals so far. Let me explain a few to everyone.

 

Philadelphia Reapers 
    Day Before
 

So I'm kind of cheating here since this is my juniors ritual. I always have an Italian meal the night before. It doesn't matter what I have, as long as it is Italian. This kind of changed when I had back to backs in that I don't have a full meal. I usually do a dessert instead. Socks must be off when I sleep the day before gamedays too.
 

    Gameday
Gameday is when I really focus. I must listen to my pump up music on Spotify. My teammates actually pulled a prank on me since I was the new guy and switched my pump up music to some Disney music instead. I believe this was the start of my time on the Reapers which actually kept me off the score sheet for a few games. I think they learned really quick not to mess with me again. Sometimes I also listen to a podcast if I feel more relaxed (easier game schedule). Right before the game I must re tape my sticks in a certain way. The color of tape is usually depending on my mood. My favorite ritual is trying to be the last one on the ice after the warmups are over. Sometimes the other team has players that know that and try to stay on the ice as long as possible. I find my ways to be the last one off.
 

Mexico City Kings
    Day Before
This is kind of the same as Philly but with one change. That change is to stay off social media all day. This means I don't check anything the day before or even on gameday. Social media isn't really for

me, but when I do check my socials it's after a game on the bus/flight.
 

    Gameday
To add on the existing rituals from Philly, I also added trying to score on our teams goalie during warmup. If I score then I know I'm gonna find the net later in the game (sometimes worked). Warmup is honestly the only time where I can be happy and Zen at the same time. I also take it very seriously in important matchups.

 

Those are a few of my rituals. I'm sure everyone has their own. Mine are a little weird and oddly specific. I'm gonna try some new stuff when I get up to the VHL and see what works. By the way, I use the same rituals from Mexico City during this WJC tournament. Lets hope that it works and USA gets the gold. Let me know what some of your rituals are. I'm curious to know what others do.

 

- Justin Lose

[Gaikoku-hito 2,154]

Wrote a response but after 1500 words I realized I should use it as a media post response to you instead as I can claim it for three weeks. I think I am very superstitious to say the least and some of these things I actually did when I played; difference I was goaltenders so I guess it will be interesting if you could guess which ones are different and how once I post my long response next week. Watch for it Saturday January 16th-ish (My Sunday so will be either the 17th here in Japan or Monday 18th depending on how quick I am at looking for other ideas for my weekly tpe) Here I go again just blabbering on. 

 

Very interesting topic as everyone has little things that they do and most people even team mate don't notice. Like I used to draw on the back of my blade when I was an actually tender something like a spirit animal that I could look down at and think act big, quick or anything that was associated with that animal. I am small so it was usually bigger animals to remind me to stay big, stay strong but from time to time I used smaller animal like cats, foxes and rabbits. Funniest drawing I had was a teddy bear that I let my girlfriend draw as she picked up my habit before my team mate did; I asked why a teddy bear and her response was actually really good strength of a bear, stay big, make yourself bigger by standing up (like a bear) and soft cuddly to cushion the pucks not giving up rebounds. Of course this was when the guys noticed for the first time and I was landed with the nick name Teddy Bear from that moment on. Gentle, soft but play bigger then I actually was. LOL!!

 

They would short the nick to bear as the other team always wondered why they keep calling me teddy bear and it became awkward. LOL!! "Great save teddy bear, That was amazing teddy bear. It also took a different meaning later on as well as my first gift to any girl would be a teddy bear to see if she took the teddy to bed with her!!" Yeah the old days (here i am still blabbing on)