As a rookie with the Regina Elk Major Junior hockey team, I walked into a tight knit locker room with incredible veteran leadership. The Elk players were not striving for individual glory; they were a herd. A we before me mentality. And while that became clear to outsiders by season's end (where our team play led us to a 2nd place finish), it was in the first game of the preseason when I came to know what it meant to be part of the herd.

The first period was a chippy affair, with St. Louis playing a physical game. In the intermission, with the score tied 1-1, our captain DAD made one thing clear: if they come after us, we're coming for them. Sure enough when the second period started Jeff Santiago laid a dirty hit on new arrival Lord Farquaads and it was on. Angry Gilmore, his D partner, skated right at Santiago and the gloves were off. After a bit of jostling, Gilmore steadied himself and - BAM - absolutely clocked Jeff.

Now in my second season, I know what to do to protect the herd. If anyone tries anything dirty against one of the Elk, they're getting a blocker to the wind pipe. You've been warned.