Photo courtesy USA Hockey

A 14-year verteran of the NHL, finishing this season with the Flyers, Tony Amonte knows how to approach the game. The right-winger from MA has competed in World Cup competition as well as two Olympic Games. We asked Amonte what goes on in his head before, during, and after a game. Additionally, since game time seems to be Amonte’s time to shine, I asked him what game day, from start to finish, is like.

On your average game day, what do you basically do to prepare for the game and does it differ if it's a home game as compared to an away game?
Basically you just try to concentrate on hockey. You get up in the morning and just go to practice and try to get loose in the morning. You then go home basically to eat lunch and then you take a nap. Finally, you then hurry back to the rink for the game. So, it’s pretty routine. Not much changes each and every game day.

Do you take it pretty easy on game days, for example, is the idea not to engage in a lot of physical activity?
Yes. I don’t do anything besides practice, then it's right back home,to eat, and right back to the hotel or the rink. I really limit my extracurricular activities on a game day.

You've talked about taking naps on game days, do you get a lot of sleep?
Not a lot of sleep. For example, I only sleep for about an hour and a half, an hour or so of that time is spent laying around watching TV or something else.

When you are on the road and you have for example, a morning skate and then an evening game, what do you basically do with your free time on the road?
Basically, I do the same things. You know, by the time that we get back to the hotel and eat it’s around 1 p.m. and you are ready to jump into bed. Next, you are up at 4 p.m. and you're getting dressed and getting ready to come back to the rink so there really isn’t that much free time on the road. There is a little more time to kill when you are at home.

Now let’s talk about game day. When you actually show up to the rink right before the game I assume you go through your calisthenics and you stretch and you exercise a little bit, but right before you go on the ice what are you basically thinking about and what are you doing?
I try not to think about anything in particular. I just try to keep my mind clear and, you know, maybe think about where I want to shoot on the goal, or what do we want to do on a power play as we have talked about at meetings. It’s just little things like that. Basically, you just try to keep your mind clear and try to tell yourself that you feel good each and every night and if you do, you usually do feel good.

For our readers who have never been in an NHL locker room what is the locker room like right before a game and right before you go on the ice? For example, what is the coach basically talking about? Scouting reports? Injuries? Strategy?
The coach will basically talk about strategy but they can only talk about so much. Nevertheless, they want to go over strategy and try to inform us on what the other team has been doing, for example, how they forecheck, what they do in the neutral zone, any weaknesses they might have, just small things like that. Our coaches don't want to overload you with too much with information. They give you just enough to get you going.

Do you have any unusual habits or rituals you perform right before a game?
Not really. It’s just everything seems to be so repetitious on a game day. What I mean by that is you put your equipment on the same way and tape your sticks the same way. It seems everything just falls into place and you can call it superstitious, but it just seems like a good routine and that's just the way it goes.

During the game and when you’re on the bench, you probably are so focused on the game but, do you have occasion to notice such things such as whether the crowd is really into the game and do you notice things going around you during the game?
Well, I try not to. I mean I really don’t look up in the stands too much. I know a few guys that do look at the beautiful girls in the stands and things like that but, that really takes away from your focus. However, on occasion I will notice what goes on in the stands so if there is a fight or something like that, something exciting like that, yeah, I think I'll notice it, but anything else, not really.

What do you notice about other players? Do you notice another player and ever say, “Wow, what a great play,” or are you just so focused on what’s going on in the game that you would never notice?
Oh yeah, you definitely notice great plays. I mean you don’t talk about it, you might talk about it after the game with your own teammates like when someone on the other team makes an unbelievable move or something like that but, everybody appreciates a great hockey player and the skills they have. I mean, at the same tune you’re trying to take the guy’s head off and do everything you can to keep him from scoring, everybody wants to see those great players make those great plays and you know when someone makes an awesome move.

What does an NHL player and/or the team do between periods?
(Laugh) If you’re not having a good period most teams would get a little spanking from their coaches. But, overall you just relax, loosen up your skates, give your feet a little rest and you know, get off your feet. You have a couple of drinks, retape your stick and just relax for 10 minutes. It goes by pretty fast, a lot faster than you would believe so, you just try to relax.

Do you ever notice the scoreboard or how other teams around the league are doing or is that a no-no?
Uh, I have in the past just checked out to see what other teams are doing especially if you have a comfortable 3 goal lead and if you're serious or something like that you’ll do a little bit of scoreboard watching. But, there is plenty of time to look at that stuff after the game so I don’t really do that during the regular season because there are so many games I really can’t follow them all.

Now that the game is over with and now you’re in the locker room, tough loss or good win, what’s the atmosphere like and normally, what goes on in the locker room afterwards?
Afterwards, everybody on our team likes to go in the weight room and ride on the bike for 10 or 15 minutes and maybe work out depending upon when our next game is. If we win it’s usually an upbeat mood and the radio is playing. If we lose, it’s kind of quiet in there. Winning is the bottom line in the NHL and if you don’t win you’re not having fun and we’ve learned that this year playing in Chicago.

Do you ever do constructive things after a game, for example, have you ever practiced following a game?
Back on the ice, no, but we will go in the weight room and you know, ride the bike or do a circuit, hit the weights. If you get a few days off you do some things in the weight room, but overall, you try to better yourself and be ready for the next day.

Everything we’ve talked about here, does that change come playoff time? Does anything change? Obviously, the intensity goes up does but anything else change?
Hey, everything changes you know. Most of the teams don’t go [with] four lines when it comes to playoff time so you gotta be in great shape. The top three lines have got to be ready to go. In the playoffs, your top four defensemen are getting plenty of ice time and you know you have to lay it on the line each and every night. I mean, one mistake and your playoffs are over so it’s always tough to know that you’re one goal away from either winning the series or losing the series. But, you have to go out there and play hard each and every night and you know not to leave anything out there.