Scott Tinkler was one of the unsung guys who makes everything work in an NHL locker room.
Equipment managers are around the players more than anyone else involved with the team because they are always in the dressing room.
Unlike the physiotherapists and the massage therapists who players go to visit, the equipment guys are always around - they are part of the room, and therefore part of the team.
They know the players - the different personalities and their idiosyncrasies - better than anyone because they get to see everyone's true colors.
They hear all the stories. All the jokes. And all the jabs.
They also know what guys need and when they need it.
They intimately know the heartbeat of the team.
If you really want to know what the culture is like on a team, ask a seasoned equipment manager.
And Scott Tinkler was one of the best at what he did.
He was the "glue" that held it all together.
In this episode we celebrate my friend Scott Tinkler and acknowledge the importance of the work they do.
Enjoy!