It's a game of ups and downs, hockey is. You win some and you lose some. Things are simple playing in your home arena. Win, and fans are right there celebrating with the team. Lose, and it's a short ride home and straight to bed.
Things are a little different on the road.
Win and the trip home, no matter how far, will likely be a pleasant one. Players are happy, coaches are pleased and I swear the ride even seems a little shorter.
Lose on the road though and things are sullied in a hurry.
Last Wednesday the Bonnyville Jr. A Pontiacs were on the road, taking on the Sherwood Park Crusaders in a divisional clash that had immediate implications in the standings. I thought, “What better time to jump on the team bus for a road trip with the Pontiacs?”
The ride there was straight business. Not too much talking, definitely no fooling around. The players were in their zone, ready to take on the task at hand – crushing the Cru.
Things started out well for the boys from Bonnyville. Up 2-0, it appeared the trip home was going to be a fun one.
But then the not-so-unthinkable happened. The pace of the Pontiacs play suddenly dropped off and the Crusaders climbed right back in it.
First it was 2-1, then 2-2. The game was pushed to overtime and with the Pontiacs on the ropes, the Crusaders capped the comeback, scoring the game-winner on the power play.
Heads dropped and shoulders slumped on the Pontiacs bench, as hope for a happy ride home was suddenly dashed.
Unfortunately, this turn of events has happened a few times this season, where the Pontiacs were up by two or three goals and somehow let the lead slip away, eventually losing it in the end.
So after the loss in Sherwood Park, frustration from both coaches and players could be expected.
The conversation between head coach Chad Mercier and his players must have been short and not so sweet, because only minutes after the final whistle, Mercier was already outside the dressing room waiting, with a slight scowl on his face, to take post-game questions from the media.
It must be tough as a coach to talk about a frustrating loss only minutes after it happened but to his credit, Mercier always makes himself available.
After the loss in Sherwood Park, he was no wordsmith. He had a simple explanation: we need to be at our best for an entire game. Not 20 minutes, or 37, but 60 minutes or more.
The short-form interview just ended and Pontiacs players were already done changing and loading the bus. After a win at home, the team can sometimes be in the dressing room for half an hour, an hour, sometimes even longer.
With music blasting, it's their time to celebrate.
A loss on the road and you better not be the last one on the bus.
There was an expectedly low amount of chatter between players loading the bus and things got even quieter as we rolled out of town.
No movies, no conversations, even the reading lights were left off. The bus was as dark and quiet as a bus filled with two-dozen teenagers and a handful of 20-year-olds can be.
The ride home is a time to reflect before getting back to work the very next day, says Mercier.
Despite putting the kibosh on fun following a rough road loss, Mercier still provides his team with the basics, including a hot meal for the ride home.
Though I must admit, even as a reporter, pizza always tastes better after a win.
