"Skates on. Sticks tossed in the middle. Teams decided on the fly. Seventeen guys a side, junior jerseys pulled out of storage, and a frozen pond that looked like it belonged in a hockey postcard. There was a bonfire on the ice. Coolers nearby. Sun overhead. No systems. No video. No pressure. Just hockey. That's the part that hits hardest. This wasn't about X's and O's or trying to manufacture chemistry. It was about remembering why these guys fell in love with the game"
"An off day during a long, grinding road trip turned into something special when the captain opened up his home in Edina and said, essentially, we're doing this. "[It's a] dream scenario for me to be able to have an ice rink in my backyard," Lee said. "Neighbor helped me out and had his rink going in the back and the boys showed up yesterday, and just had a wonderful day together, skating, hanging out, watching the football games and enjoy each other's company.""
An off day during a long road trip became a spontaneous pond-hockey gathering at Anders Lee's backyard in Edina, Minnesota. Seventeen players showed up, grabbed sticks and jerseys, and divided into teams on a frozen pond with a bonfire, coolers, and sun overhead. The event had no systems, video, or pressure — just informal, pure hockey. Players felt like kids again, rediscovering why they loved the game. The next practice displayed sharper focus and faster play, with increased energy and competitiveness. Lee's leadership and the informal reunion strengthened camaraderie and renewed motivation across the roster.
Read at Eyes On Isles
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