Long days are normal for the equipment staff of the Blue Jackets. In part one, they walked us through what a typical game day is like for them. In part two, they relate what it's like on the road.
Playing the second game of back-to-back games on the road always makes for a hurried and long day for them. Not only are they getting everything done for the home game, they have to prepare to leave Columbus after the game and travel to another city, just to do it all over again.
"The truck is probably halfway full already on the morning of the day we leave," said Jamie Healy, "because we have all the extra stuff."
They have trunks that most everything gets packed in, which get loaded onto the truck prior to the game. When the game is finished, the main things they have to worry about getting loaded onto the truck are players' bags, sticks and gear.
"We're still trying to get the jerseys done and packing up the sticks," Tim LeRoy says, "making sure they get on the truck. Getting the sticks they used in that game and their backup sticks loaded. Making sure we have everything from their stalls, too. We're checking and double-checking."
"After a game is over and the guys come off the ice," says Stypinski, "Jamie and I will pack up the skate sharpeners and the rest of the trunks that are in the hallway. During the third period, I go around the room and situate bags so that it's a faster exit. Once we get all the bags down to the truck, I'll stay there and put all the trunks in order on the truck. Timmy and Jamie go through and get everything else. And then, we roll."
Healy explains the breakdown of the trunks. "We have 15 trunks we travel with. And then there are all the bags and the extra bags; plus, the coaches' bags. We have to have our own little version of our room on the road. There are three equipment trunks, three medical trunks, four broadcast television trunks, a jersey trunk, two skate sharpeners... So, when we leave after a game, we're usually out of here in 45 minutes."
Preparation is paramount for them to get out of the arena in a timely manner. This is never more important than when they are on the west coast and playing in San Jose. The airport there has a curfew, with no planes allowed to take-off or land after 11 p.m. This makes preparation and efficiency extremely important.
"On the road," Stypinski said, "some cities have a curfew. Our record is 13 minutes in San Jose. I think that's a record for anybody getting out of there."
When it comes to loading the plane, working together as a team gets everything done so that they can depart for wherever the next game may be. It takes them, on average, about twenty minutes to load the plane once they arrive at the airport.
"Usually, Jason is in the plane and Jamie and I are in the back of the truck," says LeRoy. "We have all the trunks numbered, so we do it in a certain way."
"It's like a jig-saw puzzle because you have so much stuff," Healy said.
So, they have now loaded the plane and departed. Once they arrive at their destination, there is still much work to be done for the game that will be played in the next day.
Jason Stypinski's counterpart from the other team will meet the plane. "And then when we land, there will be another truck driver, like me, that picks us up. We go right to the rink and set the room up for the next morning."
"Players get off the plane, jump on the bus and go to the hotel," said LeRoy. "We get the truck loaded and head to the rink. We then unload the truck and set-up the room. After arriving at the rink, we're usually finished unloading and setting up the room in 45 minutes."
So, while the players and coaches head to the hotel to get some rest, these three still have work to accomplish. Having a system helps them immensely in getting this done.
"Once we all get unpacked and the gear is hung, we'll branch off," Stypinski explains. "Jamie will hang up name plates, I start the practice laundry and Tim is setting up the skate sharpeners." All of this, along with the myriad tasks that need to be done before they can head to the hotel to get a few hours of rest, makes for long days.
"It usually ends up being a 19 or 20 hour day," said LeRoy.
A great time-saver for both the equipment staff and the team is that they have their own plane. This was not always the case for the Blue Jackets.
"It is nice to have our own plane," LeRoy said. "The first year, we chartered. I can remember waiting after games and we would get a phone call saying the charter company couldn't get a plane there, they're delayed. So, we would be at the mercy of the charter company. We were stranded so many times."
Imagine being stranded at the airport because the company you're paying to have a plane there to pick you up has dropped the ball. Jason Stypinski recalls this happening to opposing teams that were playing in Columbus.
"One time, I got a call from the airport and was told the opposing teams' plane was still in New Jersey. This was ten minutes before the end of the game. So, I went and talked to their guy and asked if they knew this. They had no clue. They didn't know that their plane was still in New Jersey. They thought it was in Columbus. It was supposed to have landed at 9 p.m. It was now 9:30 p.m. and the plane was still sitting on the tarmac in New Jersey. Their plane didn't get here until midnight."
Working together as a team has them doing many different things throughout the course of the game. Whether that's fixing a pair of skates, cutting and taping a new stick to replace a broken one or sewing up a blown-out elbow pad, they all chip in to get the job done so that the players can concentrate on playing the game.
"There's a lot that needs to be done in the locker room when we're on the road, during the game," Healy says. "It's not only between periods, but getting ready to leave, too."
Whereas they used to have a more relaxing schedule to their offseason, it is now turning into a year-round job for them. They stay busy when most would think they could take time off.
"There are camps and guys staying in Columbus and working out, skating," said LeRoy.
Stypinski explains, "We've got a young team and they like to be here. Last year, we got done with our inventory (after the season concluded) and were trying to make out a summer schedule for when each of us could take off. Our strength coach (Kevin Collins) came back and said 'our summer program starts Monday and eight guys are coming back'."
But, these three would not have it any other way. They have a passion for what they do that comes through by the fact that things run smoothly. You may not notice them, but they are always there.
So, the next time you are at the arena for a game, or maybe watching one on the television, take a moment and think about all that these three guys do so that your team can go out there and play the game of hockey. Tim LeRoy, Jamie Healy and Jason Stypinski are a well-oiled machine that is always on the move.
LeRoy sums it up succinctly. "We're very fortunate to have this job. It's a great job."
