👀

I had meant to write a post about hockey crashing into my life (and not through Heated Rivalry, though I did tune into that and Hudson Williams has got me reaching levels of deranged I have not seen in so long), but between trying to cram all of my "a year in review" posts and planning for the new year where I attempt a new spreadsheet format that I know will probably not stick 365 days later, I have not gotten there. So I won't expand on how I got into watching the NHL today. We are going straight to my word vomit as a result of me attending open practice with one of my friends for the San Jose Sharks, who are my home team!!

In bullets, because I cannot be bothered to do a nice writeup right now:

• Off the bat, Mack is super recognizable not just because he is all over media but because of the way he moves on the ice. He skates with evident bursts and it really is so fun to watch him skate so smoothly through traffic, as if they aren't even there!!

• Second player I recognized on the ice was Ekky, who looks skinnier in person. Not trying to make a comment on his weight, but it was noticeable especially since he's on the same line as Mack and Cherny.

• Mack was super playful, particularly with Ekky and Wenny and others I cannot put name to face right now. Also smiley and he does have that childlike vibe to him. He also has a lot of animated hand motions, and I'm not exactly sure how to describe them but some of them are similar to what he would do when a teammate scores? I wasn't counting them but I'm pretty sure I saw him do it at least three or four times.

• When Mack and Wenny were waiting on the side closer to the seats, they were bouncing a puck on the blades of their sticks, then tossing it back and forth. I don't really remember who started it, and I almost wished I'd gotten it on video, but I was in Mack's direct line of sight so I didn't want to pull out my phone.

• Didn't realize until I sat down to process what had happened today but the forwards, when not using the entire stretch of the ice, were on the left side. This worked in my favor because I sat a little left of the center and I pay more attention to the forwards in general.

Honestly, super fun experience! Seeing the drills they run, the lines they do, especially since I'm attending the game against the Lightning tomorrow, really helps me process what it's like up close and also witness the work they put in. I want to go again before I head back to campus but I'm not sure it's happening, with the current schedule. Their only 10:30AM open practice falls on a Tuesday, and I have to go to my mother's office that day…well, hopefully we will find a way.