This is part of a series of articles about student-athletes’ pre-game rituals. Read them all here.
Owen MacLean ’26. Photo by Mr. Michael Aldridge.
Everyone who plays hockey can agree that goalies are often some of the weirdest or most superstitious people in a locker room. A lot of times, goalies are in their own world and have unique pregame routines. Owen MacLean ‘26, one of the Northwood Prep team’s goalies, is actually one of these routine-oriented goalies.
“I don’t consider myself superstitious, more routine-oriented,” Owen Maclean said. Owen doesn’t have many weird superstitions, like doing his left skate first or eating the same thing 2 hours before a game. Owen has incorporated a little bit of variability into his routine while keeping what works steady at the same time.
Some of the biggest parts of Owen’s routine include doing the same stretching, mobility, and band work 90 minutes before puck drop. “I found this to be the best way to prepare my body, especially hips and hamstrings, for games,” MacLean mentioned when asked why this piece is crucial to him. MacLean also said that he has been doing this since his U14 year, so this has been constant for about three years now.
Owen will participate in team soccer and dynamic stretches after he is done with his routines. One of his favorite pregame parts is kicking the soccer ball around for about 20 minutes. When all that is done, Maclean tries to kill some time, focus on the game, and begin visualizing what the game will consist of.
“I don’t like sitting in my gear for too long before the game, it makes me feel a little tired once the game starts,” Maclean said while explaining the final part of the routine. Owen delays getting his equipment on until 15-20 minutes before he takes the ice. This way, he doesn’t have to sit around waiting, and his body will be ready and awake when it is time to go.
