| Becoming "The Journeyman"...... |
| Monday, 29 September 2008 06:06 |
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Great Cause I'm curled up in bed right now icing down my "hammies" after finishing my 1st marathon (ok half marathon..alright it was 5K - but there were a lot of hills!!). It was the Komen Race for the Cure http://www.komen.org/. If you are ever feeling sorry for yourself please attend/participate/volunteer at one of these events and you will come away Energized and Inspired. Needless to say there is no PBR today. However, tomorrow is a new day!! Becoming The Journeyman This is a common tale among my fellow journeyman. You come to training camp as a 20-22 year old (depending if you played junior or college - for me it was the IVY League of the Midwest - Bowling Green). You are not even thinking of making the team. All you want to do is make a good impression and try to get into an exhibition game. That's it. Although, if you are a 1st rounder, things may be a little different.......but, remember, this is a story about journeyman...try to keep up! My 1st training camp was with the Anaheim Mighty Ducks (mighty in name only at that time). First up - Physicals: I report to the doctors office to check in. "Sean Pronger reporting for my physical" I said. The women says "I'm sorry we don't have you're name anywhere." Excuse me....This can't be good. So, I ask her to check again. I don't have a "Sean Pronger" but I do have a "Chris Pronger" she says. You've got to be kidding!!!!...obviously this is not the 1st time this has happened to me but COME ON!!! Fortunately, there were only 20 players that heard that. I'm sure that won't come up again FOR THE REST OF MY CAREER!! Sidebar: I've had referees, linesman, coaches, players, teammates, opposing players, fans, media, doctors, trainers, strangers, parents (just kidding!) call me Chris...Do you think one time PAYROLL or ACCOUNTING could make that mistake!!! Up next: Welcome Dinner - this is the time when management and coaches tell you that they want a competitive training camp and no one's job is safe. "If you want a spot on this team you are going to have to battle for it!!!" You believe every word (unless you are a veteran journeyman - you know better). As the dinner is about to end the coach says to "check the board in the lobby to see which ice session you are on tomorrow". On the board you'll find "The List". All journeyman know and fear "the list". The list shows which players are on Team A or B. As you make your way over to "The List" you start to get butterflies in your stomach. Is it better to be on Team A or B? Or does it matter? You want to run over to see it ....but you don't....you kinda lolly gag over and act like "the list" is of no consequence to you.....What?!? a list?? what list?? ..... As you scan over Team A you don't see your name. You immediately look at Team B. There it is. You are on the 3rd line on Team B. Thank goodnes.....they didn't forget me. Now, you check out to see who is on Team A. NHLer, NHLer, NHLer, NHLer, NHLer, NHLer, NHLer, 1st rounder, etc...you get the picture. You immediately look up and down Team B. AHLer, AHLer, AHLer, ECHLer, Tryout, etc........ As a 1st timer you are ok with this....."I'm young, I'll be on Team A in no time" If this is training camp # 3 or #4 "the list" can be devastating..... My 1st camp with Anaheim was fairly uneventful. I played 1 exhibition game vs. The Rangers. I remember being on cloud nine. A mere 9 months earlier I was playing in the ECHL...... now I'm running into Adam Graves....I think I actually said sorry to him - how could I not..the "Kid Line" was awesome when the Oil won the Stanley Cup in 1990. The next day I got "the tap" to go see the coach. "Sean, you had a great camp but....blah, blah, blah, go down to the minors blah blah, work hard blah blah, and you'll be back in no time blah blah BLAH!" You bite it hook, line, and sinker. You don't know any better. It's standard operating procedure for the coach to get you in and out of the office as quickly as possible so there is no confrontation....They try to make you feel good about yourself, about your training camp, and about your future within the organization all the while politely kicking you in the ass to Providence/Baltimore/Syracuse/etc so they can bring in the next victim and tell them they had a good camp, blah blah etc..... The 1st time it doesn't hurt because you knew this was going to happen....Hey, you just played against the NYR...life is good.....I'll go down to the minors, play hard, and be back in no time!! I'm young, this is my 1st camp....wait until next year!!!.....However, things change as you get older...when you get "the tap" you strut into the coaches office and say "spare me the song and dance....what time's my flight?" Journeyman OUT!
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