Every hockey player has their pre-game ritual. Some are simple. Some are superstitious. Some make zero sense… but if you don’t do them, you just know you’re going to go minus-3 and lose your twig on the first shift.
Here’s a look at the pre-game routines that make hockey players, well, hockey players — by position.
Offense: Tape, Flow, and False Confidence
Forwards are all about vibes.
They arrive at the rink with wireless headphones, pretending they’re about to step onto NHL ice… when in reality, they’re playing at the local barn with flickering lights and a scoreboard from 1987.
Their ritual:
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Retape the stick even if the tape job is still pristine — because “new tape = new hands.”
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Spend a solid 15 minutes in front of the glass mirror checking the flow. Bonus points for mid-tunnel helmet flips.
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Fire a few pucks at the crossbar during warmups to “dial it in,” then immediately whiff on the first breakout pass.
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A last-second smelling salts hit to let everyone know they mean business.
Confidence level: ✅ Through the roof
Execution level: ❌ TBD
Defense: Quiet Panic and Overstretching
D-men show up like they’re clocking in for a blue-collar shift. No nonsense. No mirror checks. Just coffee, tape, and that thousand-yard stare of someone about to block a slapshot with their ribcage.
Their ritual:
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Drink black coffee like it’s a pre-game meal.
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Re-check every screw on their helmet and every knob on their stick — because if something breaks, they’ll still be on the ice for the 2-on-1.
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Stretch in the corner for way too long while pretending not to watch the forwards mess around.
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Mentally prepare to yell “RIM IT!” at least six times.
They don’t need hype songs. Their pre-game playlist is the sound of Zamboni doors closing.
Goalies: Organized Chaos and Ritual Overload
Goalies are… different. Everyone knows it.
Their ritual isn’t one thing — it’s twenty-seven highly specific steps performed in the exact same order, or else the hockey gods will smite them.
Their ritual:
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Step onto the ice with left skate first. Or right. But never the wrong one.
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Tap each post in a sequence that looks like Morse code.
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Adjust pads even if nothing moved.
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Stare at the rafters like they’re downloading divine goaltending powers.
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Skate a carefully choreographed pattern that would impress NASA engineers.
If anything interrupts them — even a stray puck — they’ll stop, reset, and start over. Respect the ritual.
Coaches: Caffeine, Clipboards, and Questionable Line Changes
Coaches have their own rituals too, though theirs involve less flow and more heartburn.
Their ritual:
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Coffee. Always coffee. Sometimes three.
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Re-writing the line combos three times in the locker room, then throwing it all out five minutes into the game.
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Rehearsing their “motivational” pre-game speech that usually turns into yelling about backchecking.
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Checking their watch, sighing, and muttering something about “when I played.”
By puck drop, they’re either hyped like Herb Brooks or just praying no one takes a penalty on the first shift.
Why We Love It
These rituals might seem ridiculous to outsiders — but they’re part of what makes hockey, hockey.
It’s the little quirks, the routines, and the superstitions that make the game feel like ours.
Whether you’re taping your twig for the fifth time, tapping the posts, or crushing a Dunkin’ coffee in the stands — you’re part of the pre-game magic.
No matter your ritual, make sure your gear is ready for puck drop.
👉 Shop Slash Hockey Apparel — Old School Grit. New School Gear.
