You’ve been playing hockey nonstop since mid-September, and suddenly the season is over. Exit meetings are done, and the final team party of the season is planned. What happens next?

Most often, the last party is a complete free-for-all regardless of location. Sometimes a player will host at his house. Other times the team will head out for a nice dinner. About the only guarantee is that whatever money is left in the team fine fund will be spent that evening. And then some. The bar tab is always impressive. As much fun as the party is, there’s always a chance that a teammate gets off the rails. And that’s what you worry about: having to take care of a friend instead of being able to enjoy the festivities. Thankfully it doesn’t happen often. But the wild-card teammate is always in the back of your head.

Provided that things go smoothly at the party, the next order of operation for most players is packing up for the trip back to their offseason home. And this aspect can vary widely. The more ingrained a player is within a city and organization, the more time they might spend there in the summer. For players that choose to drive back to their offseason homes, logistics can be a nightmare. Many have to rent a trailer. Book hotels. Figure out what to do with family pets while on the road. Not to mention how to keep kids entertained if they’re riding along.