Part 1:

Team-Building Exercise

For many teams, the beginning of training camp offers a chance to lay the foundation of a successful season, either in the standings or in terms of long-term growth. A big part of that is building a cohesive locker room full of individuals who are all pulling the same direction towards the same goal. In at least 150 words, write about a team-building exercise your team participated and describe how some players acted and reacted during and after the event.

Graphic Option: Make an image depicting a couple of members of your team participating in a team-building exercise or hanging out together in the locker room. Must include the team logo somewhere.

Part 2: 39alaska39 - Describe your living situation during the season. Are you living with a billet family, teammates, your own family? How is this affecting your preparation for games? (150 words)

After arriving in Detroit for training camp, I was introduced to my billet family for the first time. From the minute I arrived at the Hendersons', I felt at home and that feeling has only gotten stronger since. When you're a young player trying to adjust to playing at a high level for the first time, having certain things taken care of for you is an incredible help. For example, I came home from a long road trip to my laundry being done (I normally do it myself so they went out of their way) and a homecooked meal topped with a sticky note congratulating me on my goal that night (they must have listened to the game on the radio). I also spend a lot of time hanging out with their children, who are between 6 and 12. Being able to relax by playing street hockey with them is a great way to de-stress during the low parts of the season. It's really touching to be invited into the home of complete strangers and end up becoming part of their family.