Player Prompt, Written Task:

Roddy Banes is reaching the point in his career where getting ready is no longer an option; the key now is staying ready (to paraphrase the late great Chi Chi DeVayne). Time and the wear and tear of ten seasons of hockey are wearing on Roddy, and regression is a slow and unstoppable beast. The off-season is all about nutrition, and keeping his fitness level up. He'll take a week, maybe 10 days after the end of IIHF play to relax and spend some quality time at home on the West Coast, eating sushi, touring breweries, and was lucky enough to get in one last meal at Hoy's Wonton House before it closed down for good.

But after that brief respite, it's right back to the grind. He'll stay at his home in Vancouver for the offseason, training with some SHL friends and comrades who say there. Jogging along the seawall, cycling, running the Grouse Grind like he's Daniel Sedin; it's a good city for getting outdoors. Once the summer begins to wane, he always tries to be one of the first Patriotes back in town, getting his ice legs under him. From the last weekend in August you can usually find him at the Patriotes practice facility, running drills, shooting at whichever Junior goalie is there for practice, and working on his shot-blocking. It's a tough life, being a top-pair defensive defender, and it requires a lot of work. But once the season starts, Roddy will be ready.