Road Trip: A Day in the Life of a Hockey Writer

Ever wondered what it was like to be a hockey writer in the NHL? We lift the curtain and show you what a typical day looks like on the road.

Hockey. There’s no other sport in the world quite like it. The hours of preparation that go into each and every game so a team can be ready to unleash everything they have for 2.5 hours or more on a game night. From practices to the morning skates and video sessions, teams are always looking for an edge to help them to victory.

Now imagine the world of a hockey writer for a moment. They attend practices. They go to the morning skates. They talk to the players and to the head coach. Yet, that is just a very small part of their overall job when you consider what goes into publication soon after.

When a hockey writer is at “home”, there’s more of a routine. No worrying about catching a plane or wondering if there is a delay. No worrying about booking multiple nights in a hotel. Being at home allows for writers to make the short drive to the rink, get what they need and then go do their job.

But today we ask a question. Have you ever wondered what a day in the life of a hockey writer is especially when they’re traveling on the road? Are you aware of everything that’s involved to make the process as smooth as can be? We are going to take you inside my recent trip to Philadelphia covering the Blue Jackets against the Flyers at Wells Fargo Center.

It is much more involved than you probably realize. If you ever wanted to become a travelling sports writer, this will give you a glimpse of what life in that field looks like.

Setting the Scene

Dateline. Dec 19, 2024. The Blue Jackets hosted Jack Hughes and the New Jersey Devils at Nationwide Arena. This is a home game so the usual routine was in place.

The Blue Jackets held a morning skate. Head coach Dean Evason spoke to the media at 10:30 to give updates. The players held their usual meeting before the locker room was opened to talk with them.

Dean Evason holds his morning pressers around 10:30 A.M. (Photo by Colin Mayr/NHLI via Getty Images)

After talking with a couple of Blue Jackets’ players, it was the Devils’ turn on the ice. After going through their motions for about 30 minutes, they left the ice and went about their routine in preparing for the game.

We spoke to a couple of the Devils’ players as well as head coach Sheldon Keefe. All routine so far. Once the availabilities were over, it was time to head home to transcribe and then do my own preparation for the game.

Published later in the afternoon, Blue Jackets’ News & Rumors went live. Then it was game time. How about that battle between Hughes and Elvis Merzlikins, eh?

The Blue Jackets won the game 4-2 thanks to Merzlikins’ standing on his head making 40 saves. Once the recap was live from the arena, it was time to go home. The road trip to Philadelphia was only hours away from beginning.

The Journey to Philadelphia

So a moment of full disclosure. I get to go to a handful of road games throughout the season. I specifically target the games that are “reasonably drivable.”

In 11 seasons of covering NHL hockey, one of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is when possible, plan for travel time based on your means of travel. That extra level of preparation is a game changer. It ensures for the most part you’ll be where you need to be when you need to be.