Locker room, pregame. The low hum of conversation dies down as the final pieces of gear are strapped on. The room smells of fresh tape, sweat, and determination. It’s the season opener, and every eye in the room is locked on you—the captain. Your team. Your responsibility.

You stand up, tap your stick against the floor, and scan the room.

“Alright, boys. This is it. We’ve put in the work. Every practice, every drill, every bag skate—this is what it’s for. The crowd is fired up, the city’s behind us, and the only thing left to do is go out there and prove why we belong at the top.”

You point toward the door leading to the tunnel.

“You know what I love about this team? We don’t quit. We don’t make excuses. We play for each other. Doesn’t matter who’s across the ice—tonight, we set the tone. First shift, first hit, first goal. We take it to them and we don’t let up.”

You lock eyes with your linemates, then the defensemen, then the goalie. Everyone is dialed in.

“Let’s play our game. Fast, physical, smart. We dictate the pace. No passengers tonight—everyone’s all in.”

You slam your gloves together and grab your helmet. The energy in the room is electric.

“Let’s go out there and give them a reason to remember who we are. Let’s go!”

The team roars in response, banging sticks against the floor and each other’s pads. The tunnel is calling. The ice awaits. The crowd is deafening as you step out, leading your team under the bright lights. It’s time to make history.